There were reduced incidences of pipeline vandalism in 2020 compared to 2019, a latest data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has shown.
A total of 441 points on petroleum products pipelines were vandalised in 2020 as against 1,484 points in 2019. This represents 70.28 percent decline in pipeline vandalism last year.
The corporation said it spent N53.36billion on pipeline repairs and management cost from January to November, according to the latest data obtained on Wednesday.
“Products theft and vandalism have continued to destroy value and put NNPC at a disadvantaged competitive position,” the NNPC said in its latest monthly report.
The NNPC said in collaboration with the local communities and other stakeholders, it continuously strove to reduce and eventually eliminate this menace.
In December 2020, 43 pipeline points were vandalised representing about 18.60 per cent increase from the 35 points recorded in November 2020.
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The NNPC said Mosimi Area accounted for 56 per cent of the vandalised points while Kaduna Area and Port Harcourt accounted for 33 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.
The number of pipeline points vandalised stood at 23 in October, 21 in September, 37 in August, 36 in July, and 33 in June.
The corporation recorded 37 vandalised points in May, 65 in April, 19 in March, 32 in February, and 60 in January.
NNPC said it spent N5.48billion on pipeline repairs and management cost in January; N6.74billion in February; N7.69billion in March; N7.84billion in April; N7.99billion in May and N6.24billion in June.
The corporation spent N1.80billion in July; N1.49billion in August; N4.41billion in October, and N3.68billion in November.
However, no repairs and management cost was incurred in September.
In January, the national oil company said a total of 96 companies from various jurisdictions had indicated an interest in undertaking the rehabilitation of its downstream facilities, ranging from critical pipelines to depots and terminals, through the Build, Operate and Transfer financing model.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, Mrs Ada Oyetunde, said the exercise was in conformity with the mandate of the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation of critical downstream infrastructure across the country.
She listed the facilities that would be rehabilitated by successful bidders to include critical pipelines for crude oil supply to the refineries and evacuation of refined products, depots, and terminals.
According to her, the objective is to get them ready to support the refineries when they become operational after their rehabilitation.
