The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) has resumed crude oil pumping after suffering the effect of a pipeline fire set by vandals at Aku near Lokoja in Kogi State.

Idi Mukhtar, Managing Director, KRPC, disclosed this to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Downstream during an oversight visit to the refinery on Tuesday in Kaduna.

“There was a report of fire on pipeline supplying crude from Warri to Kaduna refinery due to activities of vandal on Friday at Aku near Lokoja.

“The good news is that the lines have limited damage and crude oil pumping has resumed as production continues. So there is no initial shut down that means KRPC will not shut down and pumping will start very soon before 4pm today,” he said.

Mukhtar said the major challenge facing the refinery is disruption of crude oil supply and act of vandals. Other challenges include running on analogue instrumentations.

“There is also the challenge of budget constraints, inadequacy and encroachment of houses into KRPC right of way of water line,” he said.

He added that over 100,000 cubic litres per hour of water is lost by the KRPC plant due to illegal tapping of the water lines. “This tapped water is not fit for human consumption,” he warned.

Mukhtar said that out of the 741,184 barrels of crude oil processed from January to date, the KRPC has produced 24,504,000 litres of kerosene and 19,158,000 litres have been evacuated.

He, however, stated that the refinery has also produced 69,700,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit with 70,673,000 litres evacuated from January 2017 to date.

Joseph Akinlana, Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Petroleum Downstream, said: “It is a shame from my point of view to have crude oil in Nigeria and begging to import over 80% of petroleum products.”

He said that the National Assembly will make a law against the vandalisation of pipelines in the country as some people have taken to the practice as a means of livelihood due to the economic situation in the country.

Update news