Tackle oil theft, illegal refineries, Shell tells FG

The Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Osagie Okunbor, has charged the Federal Government to tackle crude oil theft and illegal refining activities bedevilling the nation.

Okunbor said the government needs to fight oil theft and illegal refineries to save the nation’s resources.

“The menace of crude theft and illegal refining must be tackled to safeguard the nation’s resources and protect the environment,” Okunbor stressed.

A statement made available to our correspondent disclosed that Okunbor made the remarks through the company’s Exploration Manager, Gogo Eneyok, at the Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists in Lagos.

He promised that Shell will continue to power progress in the drive for energy security in Nigeria through its businesses in the upstream, midstream and downstream and renewable energy sectors.

Okunbor said the range of the Shell businesses were integrated across the energy value chain and working hard to address the challenges as captured in the theme of the event—‘Resolving the Nigeria Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth & Affordability’.

In addition to SPDC, the other Shell businesses in the country are Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, Shell Nigeria Gas, Daystar Power and All On as well as the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, in which Shell has 25.6 per cent interests.

Okunbor said, “Shell, working with government, regulators and stakeholders, is actively participating in finding a pathway through the energy trilemma. We are focused on generating maximum value and cash to power the country.”

Referring to efforts towards low and zero-carbon products to market, he noted, “Shell is deploying the latest technologies in reducing emission in our operations and we are well on track to meet our forecasted GreenHouse Gas reduction targets.”

He said SNG is also increasing domestic gas delivery through its distribution network of 150 kilometres in Nigeria while Daystar and All On are giving individuals and communities access to cleaner and affordable energy.

Okunbor, however, pointed out that for these and other efforts and investments to achieve the desired results, the government has to improve the regulatory environment with continuous improvement in the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.