AGS NEWS – Oil companies are purchasing refined Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) from illegal refineries in various Niger Delta communities, according to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

This claim was made on Monday during the Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week Conference in Abuja, and it was not disputed by the oil companies present.

Tantita, a security firm based in Warri, Delta State, specializes in protecting oil and gas assets and currently works with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

Speaking at a panel session, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Tantita’s Executive Director of Operations and Technical, stated that illegal refineries produce large volumes of diesel, which is bought by downstream operators and oil companies.

He explained that crackdowns by Tantita and other security agencies have contributed to rising diesel prices.

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Enisuoh emphasized that most of the diesel available in fuel stations is produced by local communities and that oil companies also purchase from these sources.

He noted that security interventions have reduced the illegal production of diesel, leading to higher prices.

The NNPC recently reported the apprehension of a tugboat carrying suspected illegally refined diesel, escorted by a marine police boat, by Tantita Security Services. Five individuals on the boat are currently being interrogated.

In a related event at the NOG conference, Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, led a meeting with the African Petroleum Regulators Forum.

The forum aims to collaborate on utilizing Africa’s 125 billion barrels of crude oil reserves and other energy resources, including green and blue hydrogen, solar, wind, and biomass.