Army finds illegal oil pipeline
2008-03-12 19:01
Port Harcourt - Nigerian security forces have discovered an illegal pipeline used by a powerful Niger Delta gang leader to steal petroleum products from a state oil refinery, an army spokesperson has said.
The pipeline runs from the refinery in Port Harcourt through a secret camp in the creeks of Rivers state to a private jetty in Okrika, the stronghold of rebel leader Ateke Tom, the spokesperson said.
It was not clear whether the pipeline was for carrying crude
oil or refined products.
Oil theft, known as "bunkering," is common in the oil producing delta, where industry sources say about 100 000 barrels of crude per day is lost to thieves.
The more common method of bunkering is to drill into
pipelines and siphon off crude into barges. Criminally-run
pipelines are rarer, although sources at the refinery said they
were aware of several others.
Cut output by a fifth
The sources said the management of the refinery could not
take action against the thieves for fear of attack.
Tom is the leader of one of several armed groups in the
delta that have fought with troops and attacked government
targets since early 2006.
The crisis has cut Nigeria's oil
output by a fifth and contributed to a spike in world oil
prices.
Many armed groups in the delta say they are fighting for the
rights of poor local communities whom they say have been cheated
out of the oil wealth flowing from their lands.
But the lines between militancy and crime are blurred and
many of the gangs make big money from bunkering and abductions
for ransom.