The rate of pipeline vandalism in the country increased by 233 per cent in January this year compared to December 2016, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said.

In its latest financial and operations report for January 2017, the national oil firm stated that pipeline vandalism increased tremendously in the month under review despite the interventions of the Federal Government and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

It said the vandalism of pipelines in the Niger Delta was perpetuated by militants in the region, and urged the culprits to desist from such activities that were counter-productive to oil production and the economy.

The NNPC said, “Pipeline sabotage in the country increased from 18 downstream pipeline vandalised points in December 2016 to 60 in January 2017. This represents 233 per cent increase relative to the previous month despite the Federal Government and NNPC’s continuous engagements with the stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, in a bid to protect its stake in the disputed Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, Malubu Oil and Gas Limited has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of the court preventing the federal government, Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration Company Limited from signing the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the $13.5 billion Zabazaba deepwater project.

The signing of the FID, according to Malabu Oil, has been slated for the second quarter of this year.
The company in a motion on notice is also asking for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the federal government and the Minister of Petroleum Resources from considering to revoke or revoking the reallocation of OPL 245 granted to the applicant by virtue of the first and second defendants’ letter of July 2, 2010, pending the determination of the suit.

Source: The Punch