AfrOil: NUPRC highlights oil thefts from Bonny, Forcados, Brass pipeline networks

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has identified the pipeline networks serving the Bonny, Forcados and Brass terminals as the biggest sources of crude oil theft in the country.

In a meeting with representatives of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) on March 24, NUPRC officials said that these three networks appeared to be particularly vulnerable because of the economic challenges facing host communities and some investors’ failure to engage adequately with residents. They also pointed to inadequate security and surveillance arrangements, the exposure of infrastructure facilities and compromises by stakeholders.

Additionally, they said the available data indicated that Nigeria may have lost as much as $3.27bn worth of crude oil to theft during the 13-month period between January 2021 and February 2022. This amounts to $233.99mn per month, or $7.72mn per day, they stated.