Nigeria uncovers 50 illegal oil refineries in Niger Delta

By Adam Abu-bashal

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - Authorities in Nigeria said Sunday that they have identified 50 facilities used for the illegal refining of crude oil.

Rear Adm. John Okeke, the spokesperson for Operation Safe Delta, which is being conducted in the country’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, said the military is continuing operations against oil smugglers in the area.

Okeke noted that significant amounts of stolen oil had been seized.

The increasing incidence of oil theft in Nigeria is having a detrimental effect on the country's economy.

Nigerian Senator Ned Nwoko previously disclosed that the country incurred over $3 billion in losses in 2023 due to increased oil theft and attacks on pipelines.

Nigeria's proven oil reserves stand at approximately 37 billion barrels, constituting 3.1% of the world's reserves.

As one of the top 15 crude oil-producing countries globally, Nigeria ranks eighth in terms of proven oil reserves and sixth in terms of oil exports.

The Delta region, where the oil fields are located, is plagued by armed groups carrying out sabotage in oil fields, leading to conflicts, kidnappings and other violent incidents in the area.