The American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, has reacted to allegations of oil theft in the Niger Delta region, stressing that as operator of the joint venture between it and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL/CNL JV, it "is committed to the highest ethical standards and business principles."

CNL made its stand known in a signed statement made available to the press in Warri, Delta State, on Saturday, September 9, 2023, by its General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, who noted that though it was aware of online media report in reference to the allegation of oil theft, stated that “it is untrue, incorrect, and made without any basis”.

According to Brikinn, the Special Investigation Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria set up by the Federal Government during their visit to CNL’s operation, recently commended its commitment to working with government agencies and others to prevent oil theft and its impact on the environment.

In the statement, while reiterating CNL's commitment to supporting the collaborative efforts to prevent oil theft and pipeline vandalism in its area of operation, affirmed that illegal bunkering and oil theft in the Niger Delta region “has negatively impacted CNL’s operation and has devastating effects on the nation’s economy and the environment in the Niger Delta region”.

The company therefore pledged to continue to monitor the environment in its areas of operations and report any suspected illegal activity and breaches to the relevant government security forces and regulatory agencies, while it stressed that CNL has helped in reducing pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the region by community collaboration around the areas of its operations to set up the Community Pipeline and Facilities Surveillance Programme, CPFSP, in 2005.

The statement read in part, “Through the CPFSP, CNL continues to tackle the challenge of oil theft and pipeline vandalism and engage the community youth in pipeline surveillance to reduce oil theft in CNL’s area of operation.

"CNL also deploys security surveillance equipment and other technologies in addition to physical water-borne patrols by the CPFSP and the government security forces.

“CNL is committed to the highest ethical standards and business principles. CNL operates as a responsible company and conducts its business in full compliance with the law and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.

"CNL will continue to work with the Nigerian government towards the development of the oil and gas industry and the Nigerian economy generally.”

It would be recalled that there has been online report purportedly attributed to the House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up to investigate crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, that the international oil companies, IOCs, are involved in oil theft.

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