Vandals force oil production below 1.15 million barrels per day

Nigeria’s oil production has dipped to below 1.15 million barrels per day as vandals carry on their businesses to an alarming height, forcing oil companies to slow down operations.

Mallam Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director/CEO of NNPC Limited, gave the hint on Friday at the official presentations of Process Standardization ISO 22301: 2019 Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certificates to the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) in Abuja.

He stated that, “As we speak now, there is a massive disruption to our operations as a result of the activities of vandals and criminals along our pipelines in the Niger Delta area. This has brought down our production to levels as low as we have never seen before.

“Today, we are doing less than 1.15 million barrels per day simply because some criminals decided that they should have some infractions on our pipelines. That is clearly the biggest form of business disruption that we are facing today and this kind of engagements, the certifications that we have today around our systems and processes should be able to respond to this and part of the response is to bring in the best framework possible to contain the situation.

“I am happy to tell us that enormous work is going on between us and relevant government security agencies, our partners particularly those that are at the corridors that are impacted and also the community members, and I am very optimistic that within the next two to three weeks very measurable outcomes will come so that our businesses can continue.

“Also, as we speak now, the Nigerian Navy is launching a massive operation to contain oil theft in the Niger Delta region to ensure that every asset of the Nigerian Navy will be deployed with the support of the industry and NNPC, in particular, to make sure that we arrest the situation,” he added.

Kyari, at the event, also had the formal launch of the Electronic Material Management System, also noted that as the Corporation progresses towards being fully commercial in July this year, it was critical that its various businesses operate at internationally acceptable standards if it wants to be globally competitive.

He said the two ISO certifications point to the direction the company wants to go in line with global best practices.

Also speaking, the Chairman of NNPC Limited Board, Senator Margret Okadigbo while pledging support for the management team, urged the National Assembly to reduce the number of invitations to Corporation officials to enable them to concentrate on their jobs.

“I have told the GMD that next time they call you to the National Assembly, take me with you. When they see you come with your mother, then they will know that it is not the same thing,” he explained.

She said NNPC is focused on delivering value and dividends to its shareholders following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Earlier, the Group General Manager of NAPIMS, Mr. Bala Wunti explained that NAPIMS, with both certifications, became the first government agency to be awarded such in Africa.

Wunti explained that the Business Continuity Management System was developed by the agency to ensure that operational disruptions were avoided during challenging periods like the lockdown that occurred during COVID-19 pandemic. Daily Independent)