NNPCL’s Boss Says Output Near full capacity, as Production Claim Faces Scrutiny


By Efa Sunday 


Nigeria is on the brink of reclaiming its full crude oil production potential, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announcing it is now operating close to 100 per cent capacity. 



The Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, who spoke at the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit on Monday in Abuja, attributed this breakthrough to reinforced collaboration between the oil and gas sector and security agencies, which has curbed crude theft, vandalism, and illegal refining.


Ojulari revealed that crude oil receipts, once as low as 20 to 30 per cent due to sabotage and theft, have now rebounded to near maximum levels.



"Today, I can proudly report to you all that our production and receipts are now attaining close to 100 per cent, thanks to the professionalism, discipline and collaborative spirit of our security and intelligence agencies, particularly in stabilising the Niger Delta.”


Continuing, he said, "there was a period when pipeline vandalism, crude theft, illegal refineries and sabotage became rampant, but the rrecovery we are experiencing today is the product of deliberate and sustained partnership between the oil and gas industry and the Nigerian defence and security institutions.”


However, industry experts argue that the near-100 per cent claim may not fully reflect current realities, citing aging pipelines, operational bottlenecks in key terminals, and limited investment in upstream projects as oersisint challenges that ha continued to affect output. 


Analysts also note that oil theft remains a recurring issue in some Niger Delta corridors, despite intensified security patrols and private surveillance contracts. Reports estimate that Nigeria still loses between 200,000 and 250,000 barrels per day to illicit activities, representing billions of dollars in annual revenue losses.


Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) show that while oil production improved slightly in the second quarter of 2024, condensate and gas flaring incidents remain significant obstacles to sustainable growth.


Nigeria, which has an OPEC quota of about 1.74 million barrels per day (bpd) for 2024, recorded an average of 1.4 million bpd in June, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ Monthly Oil Market Report. This shows some improvement compared to 2023, when production hovered between 1.2 and 1.3 million bpd, but remains below full potential.



For Nigeria to achieve and maintain true production stability, experts recommend continuous investment in infrastructure, stricter monitoring of crude evacuation points, and expanded regional cooperation to combat international syndicates involved in crude theft. While NNPCL celebrates its recent gains, the road to sustainable energy security remains steep, requiring both government commitment and private sector innovation to fully unlock Nigeria’s oil and gas potential.


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