CEM REPORT | In the fight against crude oil theft, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has launched an Advance Cargo Declaration regime in upstream petroleum operations.
NUPRC, Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, disclosed while highlighting its initiatives to curb oil theft in Nigeria, at a stakeholders’ engagement with newsmen said it has been granted approvals to implement the policy.
The Commission’s Chief added that the policy will ensure Crude Oil and Gas cargoes exported from Nigeria have a unique identifier that confirms all documentation as regards the exported consignment.
He further said the policy aligns with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, to develop initiatives in collaboration with the NNPC and other oil and gas operating companies and Nigerian security forces to fight the menace.
Furthermore, he said the commission have also received approvals to ensure installation of metering equipment (LACT Units) in the upstream petroleum industry, using Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), stating it would avert potential manipulation of figures that could result in shortchanging the Federation of oil and gas revenue.
[READ ALSO] Nigeria Lost $3.5Bn to Crude Oil Theft in 2021
Komolafe also disclosed that in view of recent controversial figures on theft volumes which impacts negatively on Federation revenue, he said the commission had commenced full-scale audit of crude oil theft and assessment of upstream assets integrity audit to establish actual crude oil theft figures in the upstream petroleum industry.
“This is very important as the nation derives its royalty from net crude oil receipts,’’
Similarly, he added that the commission had also commenced manpower audit, job mapping and capacity building programmes tailored towards optimisation of human capital adding that in line with section 314 of the PIA, 2021, it had successfully implemented the delineation of staff between the commission and the Midstream/Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (MDPRA).
“The Commission has completed the unbundling of Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) from legacy DPR and implemented automation of the business workflow processes.
“The processes are the Revenue Ledger and Information System (RLIS) portal for companies to submit all local and foreign royalty payment and National balance of payment portal for reporting inward and outward direct investment associated with crude oil export.
“Others are Development of Asset Management Web Portal (AMWP) for Marginal Fields and petroleum facilities and e-library – providing access to all internal resources, including checklists, SOPs, templates and reference materials,’’
The CCE, also noted that the commission was deliberate in identifying and sanctioning new projects and new field developments, to help boost national oil production.
“We will continue to work with all stakeholders on the strategic areas and we will, without prejudice to the mid and long-term strategies.
“We will continue to implement some immediate (short term) oil gain strategies in the light of current realities of upward trend in international crude oil prices,”
