Recent upsurge in vandalism has not only negatively impacted on oil production but reduced Nigeria’s domestic gas production by 50 percent which has in turn constrained gas supply to power plants in the country.

Power supply has consequently dropped since March, plunging lower in May this year.

According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in its latest financial and operations report for April, Nigeria has lost over 1,500 megawatts of power supply to the damage of the Farcados 48-inch export pipeline which is the country’s major artery that accounts for 40-50 percent of gas production.

The 48-inch export line operated by Shell, NNPC and other JV partners was vandalized in February 2016 crippling export of crude oil from the terminal.

“About 380,000bopd remained shut-in due to vandalism of the 48” sub-sea export line on 15th February, 2016. Hence, all March cargoes were deferred until the repair is completed,” the report said.

Shell, last week, confirmed that the giant underwater Forcados 48-inch pipeline had been hit again and was leaking.

Recent attacks by Niger Delta Avengers on oil facilities have affected Nigerian crude oil output, losing its African top crude oil producer status to Angola.