In a bid to stop the activities of vandals, the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Austen Oniwon made a call to the United States of America authorities asking for a collaboration with the Corporation in the area of surveillance of its pipelines, noting that the Nigeria’s three refineries are patterned in such a way that products are ferried through pipelines. He made the call on Thursday when he played host to a delegation from the American Embassy at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

He explained further that the capacity of the two functional refineries would increase if the pipelines are properly secured.

He emphasized on the Corporation’s resolution to continue the export of petroleum products that meet the environmental and safety requirements of the American government as part of efforts to transform the NNPC into an integrated national oil company. He noted that such an economic partnership would strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

He also called on the American Government to invest in the downstream sector of the Oil and Gas Industry by participating in the building of Greenfield refineries across the country.

According to Engr. Oniwon, apart from the Memorandum of Understanding for the building of three refineries signed recently by the NNPC and a Company from China, there is still room for more Greenfield refineries as the Corporation is open and willing to discuss business with the American Government in that area of investment.

Engr. Oniwon informed that at present, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company are running at 60 percent throughput. On the Gas Master Plan, He said the primary target is to grow domestic supply by all operators in the upstream sector.

In response, the leader of the American Embassy delegation and Minister Counselor, Ball Perry reiterated the commitment of the United States to sustain its investments in energy and agriculture in Nigeria and promised to participate in the building of Greenfield Refineries in Nigeria.

He revealed that the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is working on some projects that would boost the renewable projects in Nigeria and provide funding for the surveillance of the Corporation’s pipelines. He also assured that the collaboration would be of mutual benefit both countries.