NMDPRA alerts Defence HQ on new oil theft at Bonny Terminal
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has been alerted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to economic sabotage, criminal damage, and illegal oil lifting at Bonny River Terminal in Rivers.
NMDPRA raised the alarm in a letter alleging the theft of Butane is being done with a vessel called Barumk Gas in alleged connivance with ExxonMobil.
The letter – signed by NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer Forouk Ahmed with reference number NMDPRA/OACE/EXC.14/2023/05, and dated 8 June 2023 – was addressed to Irabor at Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
ExxonMobil denied involvement in any illegal operation, stressing its activities at Bonny River Terminal are within the law, according to reporting by The PUNCH.
However, NMDPRA insisted “the urgent attention of the Chief of Defence Staff is drawn to the illegal petroleum lifting operations taking place at Bonny River Terminal.
“The vessel Barumk Gas is lifting Butane at Bonny River Terminal without the authorisation or participation of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority which is the agency of government statutorily responsible for regulating operations at the terminal.”
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Facilitation of unlawful action
“This unlawful action is being facilitated with the active connivance of ExxonMobil, who have illegally destroyed the locks on the sea-line valve, whose keys are in the custody of the authority,” the letter added.
“The actions of ExxonMobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria’s national resources.
“You are by this letter kindly requested to urgently prevent the sailing out of Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded.”