The Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa business unit, Mr Jim Swartz, has disclosed that Chevron recorded zero incidents of sabotage in the past year.
Swartz made the disclosure during his recent visit to the corporate headquarters of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in Abuja. “Chevron has not recorded any oil theft or attacks on our pipelines this year. This is the longest we’ve gone without oil theft,” Swartz was quoted as saying in a statement.
Chevron is a member of the Oil Producers Trade Section, a subgroup of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. OPTS is a private industry group dedicated to the exploration, development, and production of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources in a sustainable and beneficial manner for the Nigerian people. It represents the interests of approximately 31 oil and gas companies that collectively operate about 85 per cent of Nigeria’s oil.
The record-breaking success story of Chevron may be linked to the strides recorded by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a private pipeline security surveillance company owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo.
The statement stated that the approach taken by TSSNL, using technology and local intelligence, has enhanced monitoring and control of activities in the region and contributed to the increase in the nation’s oil production output from 2022 to the present.
Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the International Oil Companies have been able to ramp up production to 1.8 million barrels per day, unlike in the past when production was trapped at 600,000 barrels per day.
With unhindered production, the government is setting a target of 2.06 million barrels per day, as unveiled in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework revealed to newsmen last week by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC also expressed delight over Chevron’s testimony on recording zero incidents of oil theft. He attributed the feat to initiatives by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
TSSNL has played a crucial role in ensuring the protection of critical infrastructure vital to the nation’s economic prosperity. Its commendable efforts have helped increase production and subsequently boost the nation’s crude oil earnings.
Apart from creating a safe environment for crude oil production and export, TSSNL has also created employment for youths in the Niger Delta, addressing one of the major triggers of youth restiveness in the region.
