Shell, Chevron, Agip, Other IOCs Indicted In Multibillion Dollar Crude Oil Theft Ring By Navy

The Nigerian Navy has identified several international oil companies (IOCs) and multinational oil companies (MOCs) as syndicates involved in the crude oil theft ring in the Niger Delta, including Shell Petroleum Development Company, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, and others.

It alleged that the IOCs and MOCs had purposely left their oil heads wide open so that thieves could access the crude oil.

In addition, it claimed that old oil heads had been abandoned under the pretence that they were not economically viable.

More specifically, it claimed that every time it informed the IOCs and MOCs of an oil head spill, their reactions were frequently incredibly strange.

According to a report in the Daily Trust, Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, recently claimed that the country’s crude oil production had fallen below one million barrels per day, or roughly 100% of its daily production in 2016.

The Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), SOROH, Commodore Daniel Atakpa, told some journalists in Bayelsa State during a tour of some creeks in the Niger Delta region that they noticed crude oil flowing endlessly from an oil well in Okaki, Bayelsa State, which is owned by Shell.

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Atakpa revealed that the Shell management had been made aware of the flow of crude from the oil heads.

“Seven months ago, we noticed that crude oil was flowing out from an oil head in Okaki. We notified the oil company that owns it, Shell Oil Company. Their response is shocking. They said they have not noticed it and that they are prioritising their operations. If you ask me, what kind of priority is that supposed to be? The Navy can only do its part, Let every other agency do theirs.

“As we speak, crude oil is still flowing from the oil head, and nothing seems to have been done to address the situation,” he said.

Commodore Atakpa added that the state has increased its patrol of creeks in an effort to crack down on illegal crude oil cooking camps.

“When we arrived at the camp, we noticed that all the criminals had deserted the camps. But what we saw are white flags indicating a truce and that they are ready to allow the military in.

“We came in, and levelled the whole area. What we would have done is to move in a swamp buggy to deactivate the entire area. But you can appreciate the distance. It is about three to four hours by speed boats, almost five hours.

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“It would require huge logistics, manpower, and all other auxiliaries for such movements.” But what we did about three weeks ago was to deactivate the camp. But as you can see, they have already started connecting those pipes. Before we leave, we are going to deactivate them again.

“Like you saw in those dugout pits, crude oil was flowing into it, and it has been flowing since.” They heard us coming, and that was why they abandoned the camp. No one can stop it except at the tapping point.

“The concerned oil company has been notified, but if they like they will stop, and if they don’t they won’t,” a visibly angry Atakpa said.