Crude Oil Theft, Illegal Refining, Pipeline Vandalism Destroy Social Economic Life of Nigerians – Shell

By Francis Sadhere

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has said that crude oil theft, illegal refining and pipeline vandalism have continued to destroy the social economic lives of the people of the Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria as whole.

The General Manager, External Relations, Shell, Mr. Igo Weli stated this yesterday in Warri during a seminar titled “Effect of Pipeline Vandalism: Crude Oil Theft and Encroachment Issues,” the company organized for journalists in Warri, Delta State.

He lamented that people only think about how much money is lost through pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and illegal oil refining without thinking about the colossal negative impacts these activities have on the environment.

He said Shell is very much concerned about the environment, stressing that the environment is the only legacy people can leave for their children and generations yet unborn.

While noting that 92% of oil spills were caused by crude oil theft and sabotage, Mr. Weli added that illegal oil refining has become a major source of worry for the environment as about 80% of waste coming from these activities are channeled to the waters.

He said people living in the riverine communities can no longer fish in the waters or farm in their farmlands as the pollution from these activities have destroyed aquatic lives and farmlands.

He also described the modus operandi of the illegal oil thieves to include vandalizing of pipelines, storing stolen products into barges and taking barges into the sea where there are vessels who receive the crude and send products abroad.

He said apart from the social impact of these activities, an average of 37,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day we’re stolen from the SPDC JV network in 2014, with an additional 110,000 barrels per day of production  deferred due to illegal interference with pipe lines and other illegal activities such as theft of well head equipment.

Mr. Weli also called on the public to stay away from all pipeline right of way, stressing that those who encroach on pipeline right of way are doing so at their own peril. He revealed that even after putting on signs to show that those areas were pipeline right of way, the public still encroach on them, a development he said portends danger for the environment and people’s lives. 

On gas flare, Mr. Weli said that SPDC recognizes the importance of addressing local communities perception and concerns about flaring in addition to complying with regulation, and that this was why consultation with community and civil society representative is an integral part of the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted for all major projects.