Lagos (Platts)--7Jan2008
The state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp said Monday that vandals
have ruptured a major crude oil pipeline in the Niger Delta, derailing plans
to bring two oil refineries back online this month.
"Just as we began test running the Chanomi Creek oil pipeline last
weekend, our engineers discovered that some people have punctured the
pipeline," NNPC spokesman Levi Ajuonuma said.
"They inserted a hose into the pipeline to siphon crude when we begin
pumping. This has affected our plan to restart the Warri refinery sometime
this week and that of Kaduna refinery later is month," Ajuonuma said.
However, he added that the delay would not be that significant as repairs
are already under way.
NNPC said last December that the 125,000 b/d Warri oil refinery would
resume operation in January nearly two years after it was shut down, and that
the 110,000 b/d Kaduna refinery would follow before the end of this month as
part of the country's aim to slash gasoline imports by 50%.
The two plants were shut in March 2006 after militants in the Niger Delta
bombed the pipeline that feeds the plants with crude from Chevron's oil
fields.
Oil-rich Nigeria relies on fuel imports to meet its domestic needs. The
other two state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt operate far below their
installed capacity of 210,000 b/d due to technical problems.
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