Daily Crude Oil Production Reaches 1.7 Million Barrels Per Day – JTF

The Joint Taskforce Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta announced that daily crude oil production has reached 1.7 million barrels per day. International oil companies are now operating at maximum capacity, with all three major pipelines—Trans Niger Pipeline, Trans Escravos Pipeline, and Trans Ramos Pipeline—achieving 100% flow.

Major K.O. Owolabi, the Coordinator of OPDS Joint Media Campaign Centre, made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday. He recalled that on July 17, 2024, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, directed an end to crude oil theft in the Niger Delta Region. In response, the Commander of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral J.U. Okeke, took immediate action starting July 18, 2024.

The actions included sensitization visits, assessment of hotspots, raids, and destruction of illegal refineries, along with the seizure of IRS materials and boats involved in illicit activities. The statement highlighted significant progress in enhancing security both offshore and onshore around oil facilities.

It stated, “The terminal factors on all major pipelines have achieved 100% flow, indicating full operational capacity. Daily crude oil output has reached approximately 1.7 million barrels per day, showing that International Oil Companies are operating at maximum production capacity with minimal interruptions or vandalism.”

As of August 4, the statement reported that all pipelines recorded 100% flow between August 1 and 3, 2024, with daily crude oil output at 1.7 million barrels per day. This reflects production at full capacity by IOCs, despite an incident involving a hacksaw cut along the TNP in Zone 7.

While acknowledging the efforts of security forces in monitoring and deterring vandals, the statement noted that output had not yet reached the target of 2.2 million barrels per day. It urged the NNPCL to encourage IOCs to increase production to meet this target, given the current security and operational status.

The statement also emphasized the importance of continuing the rigorous efforts in monitoring and dismantling illegal refinery sites, which had denied criminals approximately 3.6 billion naira in July alone. Rear Admiral Okeke commended the contributions of all security components involved and stressed the need for the NNPCL and IOCs to expand production capacity to achieve and surpass the 2.2 million barrels per day target.

Regarding President Bola Tinubu’s live broadcast, the statement noted it as evidence of improving conditions. It assured that the OPDS Commander would maintain the current security measures along the pipelines to prevent criminal access and encouraged oil companies to maximize pipeline capacity.