By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dismantled and destroyed four illegal refineries within the Oil Mining License (OML) 18 in Cawthorne Channel, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
OML18 which holds about 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe), formerly operated by Eroton Exploration and Production Limited, is owned by Joint Ventures of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited with 55 per cent and four others including — Midwestern Oil, 16 per cent, Asharami Energy 16 per cent, San Leon Energy 11 per cent, and Bilton Energy, 2 per cent.
The oil block located swamp onshore, South of Port Harcourt, has ten oil fields, the largest being Cawthorne Channel, Buguma Creek, Orubiri, Akaso, Alakiri, Awoba and Krakama fields.
Speaking, the NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State, Mr Basil Igwebueze, has been directed by the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to step up intelligence and protection of all critical national assets and Infrastructure both on land and the waterways.
Mr Igwebueze said the illegal refinery was uncovered by operatives of its marine unit based on credible intelligence, warning of his zero tolerance for all acts of economic sabotage, according to a statement through the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Olufemi Ayodele.
He explained that suspected oil thieves carrying out illegal oil refining activities in Cawthorne Channel had vandalized OML18 wellheads and pipelines and further siphoned crude oil from the pipes to feed their locally made refinery in the creek.
He said, “With full determination to combat the menace of illegal oil bunkering activities on the waterways; operatives of the Marine Unit swung into action by taking charge of the environment.
“The suspects took to their heels upon sighting the marine operatives. In furtherance to this, the State Commandant ordered massive destruction of all materials used in carrying out the illegal oil bunkering and over four different refining stations were destroyed altogether.
“To ensure that the suspects do not reconstruct the local refinery, the NSCDC marine operatives have also been directed to intensify patrol in the area.
“Our commitment to ensure that Rivers State is a haven for the dwellers remains firm and most importantly our nation must be salvaged from economic saboteurs who are milking on the wealth and resources of the country.
“The Command will not relent in her collaboration with all sister security agencies to fight to stand still the activities of illegal oil bunkering in Rivers State.
“In addition, we hereby appeal to the public to continue giving us actionable information that would lead to the arrests of criminal-minded persons, even as we assure our informants of overall protection and secrecy of any given information.”
