The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has shut down crude oil flows to two of its four refineries after weekend attacks on pipelines by militants.
According to NNPC spokesman, Ohi Alegbe, the weekend attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta will go a long way to frustrate government hopes to start weaning the country from expensive imports.
“We have shut down flows for now, the military are on top of the matter,” the statement read in part.
The 125,000 barrel per day (bpd) Warri refinery and the 110,000 bpd Kaduna refinery had resumed output in December after several months of maintenance. The Kaduna refinery receives its feedstock oil via the Warri refinery.
Nigeria also has a third refining complex with two plants in the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt, although only the newer of the two plants is currently functioning.