An illegal oil bunkering facility that led to the loss of about $1.1bn from – Oil Mining License 17, has been linked to a company belonging to a billionaire business tycoon, Tony Elumelu.
The company is currently under investigation following the uncovering of an illegal oil bunkering facility connected to it.
The investigation was necessitated after the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Thursday, uncovered an illegal local refinery at Otamiri-Etche, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
NDIOMU CAPABLE OF LEADING PAP AND ANTI-OIL THEFT PANEL
The illegal refinery, it was gathered, steals crude from OML17 fields operated by Heirs Holding Oil and Gas Limited.
In 2021, Heirs Holdings acquired 45 per cent of OML 17 from Shell Total and Eni. At the point of acquisition, the field located at the north Port Harcourt, produced just 27, 000 barrels per day, however, production rose to 40, 000 barrels per day seven months after acquisition.
The NSCDC was able to burst the oil bunkering gang following intelligence reports from local informants.
The perpetrators were said to have tapped into Heir Holding Oil and Gas facility through the pipeline bulk delivery and stole crude oil through carefully constructed pipes to their illegal local refinery.
Further findings revealed that some insider involvement connected to the bunkering had been uncovered, and the NSCDC is currently interrogating workers both inside and outside the facility with the full support of Elumelu himself.
Source: Upshort reports
