Daily crude oil output hits 1.7m bpd

The Joint Taskforce Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta has said daily crude oil output had reached 1.7 million barrels per day.

Additionally, it said the international oil companies are operating at maximum production capacity with all three major oil pipelines achieving 100 flow.

The Coordinator of OPDS Joint Media Campaign Centre, Major K.O Owolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday and sent to newsmen.

Owalabi, recalled that on July 17, 2024, a directive was issued by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to end crude oil theft in the Niger Delta Region.

He said following the above directive, Commander of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral J. U Okeke, immediately precisely on July 18, 2024, swung into action.

Some of the actions according to the statements include,” a series of sensitization visits, assessment of hotspots and subsequent raids as well as destruction of illegal refineries, seizure of IRS materials and boats involved in these activities.

“With these and other measures to enhance security both offshore and onshore around oil facilities, Headquarters Operation Delta Safe is pleased to report significant progress.”

The statement reads, “The terminal factors on all major pipelines, including the Trans Niger Pipeline, Trans Escravos Pipeline and Trans Ramos Pipeline have achieved 100 per cent flow, reflecting full operational capacity.

“Daily crude oil output has reached about 1.7 million barrels per day indicating that International Oil Companies are operating at maximum production capacity with little interruption or vandalism along the three major pipelines.”

On the update on the pipelines monitoring and crude oil output as of August 4, the statement said, “The terminal factor on all pipelines (TNP, TEP, and TRP) recorded 100 per cent between 1 and 3 August 2024, with daily crude oil output estimated at 1.7 million bpd.

“This indicates production at full capacity by the IOCs, despite a reported incident of a hacksaw cut along the TNP in Zone 7 this morning by PINL.”

He further said the current efforts by troops to monitor, patrol, and deter vandals along the pipelines are yielding positive results.

The statement added, “However, output has not yet reached the target of 2.2 million bpd, which could be due to the collective production capacity of the IOCs.

“Therefore, it is necessary for the NNPCL to encourage IOCs to increase production to meet the target of 2.2 million bpd, given the security and 100 per cent terminal factor on all lines.

“The success recorded is due to the rigorous and continuous efforts of our security forces in monitoring, patrolling, and deterring vandals along the pipelines. Additionally, personnel of Operation Delta Safe have been effective in discovering and dismantling illegal refinery sites, denying criminals approximately 3.6 billion naira in July alone.

“These efforts have been crucial in maintaining the 100 per cent terminal factor. Our security agencies are committed to maintaining this high level of vigilance and operational tempo to safeguard our oil infrastructure.”

It further said in recognition of the collaborative success in securing the pipelines and improving crude oil production, the Commander of the Joint Task Force South-South, OPDS, Rear Admiral J.U. Okeke lauded the exceptional contributions of the Land Component, Maritime Component, Air Component and all other security agencies components with OPDS.

“Their unwavering commitment and adherence to the Chief of Defence Staff’s directives have been crucial in our mission to eradicate crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta Region, ” the statement added.

Rear Admiral, Okeke, also urges that, moving forward, the NNPCL and the IOCs should focus on expanding production capacity to achieve and surpass the target of 2.2 million bpd.

On Sunday’s live broadcast by President Bola Tinubu, the statement said it is a testament that things are getting better, saying the OPDS Commander will continue to sustain the current tempo along the pipelines, denying criminals access within his jurisdiction.

Rear Admiral Okeke urges both local and international oil exploration companies to ramp up production and fully utilize the pipeline capacity.

“If the pipelines are already at full capacity, the NNPCL must assess whether the nation can produce 2.2 million bpd.

“Long-term efforts by the NNPCL and oil companies should focus on increasing the nation’s capacity to reach the targeted output of 2.2 million bpd, ” the statement said.