The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said it plans to commence the resumed legal bunkering of crude oil in the country before the end of the year.
The disclosure was made by the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Engr Andrew Yakubu while speaking at a workshop organised for media practitioners in Uyo.
He stated that the NNPC was waiting for clearance from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other related agencies of the government to commence operations in crude oil bunkering.
He further hinted that the corporation plans to commence bunkering operations in the country by October this year if it is able to obtain all the necessary clearance.
Meanwhile, the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the NNPC has said that over N376 billion was lost to pipeline vandalisation between 2008 and 2013.
The Managing Director of PPMC, Haruna Momoh, represented by an official of the company, Frank Amedo said during his presentation at the workshop that the company recorded increased sabotage of the lines within the period.
From about 497 pipeline break points recorded in 2009, Momoh said the number of breaks increased to 3,591 in 2013. He said that pipeline vandalism should now be considered as security risk and economic sabotage.
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