Nigerian refineries cannot meet up with the country’s oil demand due to pipelines vandalism, the Managing Director, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Alhaji Idi Mukhtar, said on Friday.

 

Mukhtar spoke at the fourth edition of capacity building workshop for Energy Correspondents.

 

He called for the establishment of a 20-inch pipeline to optimize crude refining to about 80 per cent.

 

He said, ”What is of  strategic importance is the need to lay a new wider (20 inch) pipeline that will serve as a better alternative to the current 16 inch pipeline which is limited by its size and low integrity.

 

”In fact, if KRPC is set to achieve the target of operating at a minimum of 80 per cent throughput. The new pipeline is needed to ensure delivery of sufficient crude oil to meet the target.”

 

Mukhtar also advocated for areas with pipelines regarded as ‘’Military Zone’’ because of its strategic importance.

 

He added: “A major challenge facing KRPC is the incessant vandalism on Warri–Kaduna pipeline and in fact it is one of the greatest threats to KRPC’s performance. This line needs to be highly secured to guarantee continuous supply of crude oil to KRPC.”