The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, has blamed the fire incident at its Buguma Wellhead 008 on activities of pipeline vandals.
The company said, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr Olufemi Soneye, on Monday, that the vandals were attempting to sabotage the site and steal crude oil from the wellhead, operated by its subsidiary, NNPC Eighteen Operating Ltd, NEOL.
According to NNPC Ltd, the vandals targeted the wellhead’s Christmas Tree—an assembly of valves and equipment used to control the flow of oil and gas—and caused severe damage to the back pressure valve.
The company revealed that this act of sabotage reflects a disturbing trend of repeated attacks on wellheads in the region.
Since March 2023, crude oil theft has been a persistent issue on the asset, with criminals resorting to increasingly extreme measures, including the use of dynamite to breach installations and illegally access hydrocarbons.
NNPC Ltd expressed its commitment to addressing the fires and mitigating the economic losses caused by these criminal activities, which pose a significant burden on Nigeria’s economy.
The company assured the public that it is collaborating with relevant security agencies to curb the rising cases of vandalism.
The company further reaffirmed its dedication to supporting communities impacted by these destructive activities and pledged to continue relief efforts to alleviate the hardship faced by affected residents.
