The largest oil and gas field financing transaction of about $1.1bn – Oil Mining License 17, owned by billionaire business tycoon, Tony Elumelu, is currently under investigation following the uncovering of an illegal oil bunkering facility connected to it.

Investigation going on after the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, uncovered an illegal local refinery at Otamiri-Etche, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

In 2021, Heirs Holdings acquired 45 per cent of OML 17 from Shell Total and Eni. At the point of acquisition, the field located at the north Port Harcourt produced just 27, 000 barrels per day, however, production rose to 40, 000 barrels per day seven months after acquisition.

Information got to us that the NSCDC was able to burst the oil bunkering gang following intelligence reports from local informants.

The perpetrators were said to have tapped into Heir Holding Oil and Gas facility through the pipeline bulk delivery and stole crude oil through carefully constructed pipes to their illegal local refinery.

Further findings revealed that some insider involvement connected to the bunkering had been uncovered, and the NSCDC is currently interrogating workers both inside and outside the facility with the full support of Elumelu himself.

“The NSCDC has a clear statutory mandate to safeguard critical national assets and Infrastructures across the federation, we will not be deterred or distracted by the activities of oil thieves in the State. Without compromise we will go after them and ensure that the illegal dealings in petroleum products are reduced drastically to boost the nation’s economy again”, he said.

OML 17 contains fields such as Agbada, Obigbo, Obigbo North, as well as Otamini and Umuchem. It also hosts facilities that can output 150, 000 barrels per day. Gas production on the field is less than 50 million standard cubic feet per day, with estimated 2P reserves of 1.2 billion barrels of oil.