The CEO of Eni told a Senate
hearing Thursday that the Italian State-controlled energy giant
was thinking of "abandoning" operations in Nigeria.
Paolo Scaroni said Eni had suffered too many crude-oil
thefts at the hands of local criminals in the Niger Delta, where
it has operated oil fields since the 1970s.
"Only us, Total, and Shell operate on land in the area. The
situation is very delicate because we're subjected to
bunkering," added Scaroni, referring to the process of syphoning
crude from oil pipes.
"They then refine it, sell the gas and throw the rest into
the sea, creating enormous environmental and economic damage.
"In 2013 we lost 60,000 barrels per day by closing off the
pipes.
"We need to produce 170,000 barrels a day and we only
produced 110,000".
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