NNPC makes U-turn, says 9-year illegal pipeline found on Trans Escravos NOT Forcados

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) says the recently-detected illegal connection was on the Trans Escravos pipeline looped to the 4-kilometre Afremo test line. 

Last Tuesday, Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer (GCEO), NNPC Limited, had said the nine-year illegal 4 kilometre (km) pipeline was from Forcados terminal to the sea.

“The most striking of all, is the four-kilometre illegal oil connection line from Forcados terminal into the sea which had been in operation undetected for nine solid years,” Kyari had said.

Forcados is operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigerian subsidiary of Shell Plc.

However, making clarifications on the discovery, Kyari posted pictures and videos of a visit to the illegal connection point on his official Twitter handle over the weekend.

The GCEO said he visited the illegal connection point together with Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff, and other key stakeholders.

“Visited the illegal connection point on the Trans Escravos Pipeline looped onto the 4km Afremo test line with Gen Irabor and others. Inspected the Afremo platform, the potential exit point for diverted crude oil. Coordinated security intervention is paying up. Theft will be ended,” he said.

A source at the national oil firm told TheCable that the location posted by the NNPC GCEO on his official Twitter account was correct.

Visited the illegal connection point on the Trans Escravos Pipeline looped onto the 4km Afremo test line with Gen Irabor and others. Inspected the Afremo platform, the potential exit point for diverted crude oil. Coordinated security Intervention is paying up. Theft will be ended pic.twitter.com/KNxie3RbWx

— Mele Kyari, OFR (@MKKyari) October 7, 2022

Following the disclosure by Kyari, SPDC, operator of Forcados terminal, last Thursday had said the connection was far off the pipeline.

“SPDC appreciates the additional surveillance conducted on behalf of NNPC to deal with illegal activities,” it had said.

“However, the recently discovered theft pipeline is approximately 30km away from SPDC’s Forcados terminal. It is not within SPDC’s pipeline right of way.”