Chevron Nigeria Limited, operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and CNL – NNPCL/CNL JV, has denied its alleged involvement in crude oil theft in the Niger Delta creeks.

Our correspondent learnt that an online medium had blamed international oil companies, with particular reference to Chevron and another IoC, in the report purportedly attributed to the House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up to investigate crude oil theft in the region.

In a signed statement made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Saturday, CNL’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn, noted that though it was aware of the online media report, “it is untrue, incorrect, and made without any basis”.

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

While reiterating Chevron’s commitment to supporting the collaborative efforts to prevent oil theft and pipeline vandalism in its area of operation, the statement 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”.

CNL, 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.

The statement stressed that CNL has helped in reducing pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta region by collaborating with communities around the areas of the company’s operations to set up the Community Pipeline and Facilities Surveillance Programme 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.”