"In a region with a history of violent interruptions, the oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta is suffering through another string of attacks by local militias. Mostly carried out by a group called the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), these attacks likely reduced crude production by mid-June by 400 kb/d in addition to 200 kb/d of non-militia related disruptions. On June 20, the government announced a 30-day ceasefire with a number of militias including the NDA. And while the NDA commented that it “does not remember having [such] an agreement”, there have been no attacks since June 16 and on Monday June 27, the government announced that production had recovered by 200 kb/d to 300 kb/d. If sustainable, this ceasefire would pave the way for higher output, with the government optimistically aiming for a return to normal production by end-July. A normalization in production, even over several more months, would create downside risk to our $50/bbl 2H16 price forecast as it would bring the global oil market close to balance over that time period."

Although there was no official confirmation last night, a top security source told THISDAY that the incidents occurred. “I just spoke with my men in the area and they confirmed the attack,” the source said, adding: “Preliminary investigations so far from our men in the field is that dynamite was used to blow up the facilities just like in previous attacks.”

The militant group reported through its tweeter handle late Saturday at 11:26 pm that its strike team had blown up two major crude oil trunk lines belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) close to Batan flow station in the oil-rich state.

At 11:30 pm of Saturday, the avengers also tweeted that it blew up the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Crude Oil Trunk Line to Warri Refinery at 9:15p.m on Friday.

Continuing, the group tweeted thus: “At 11:26pm on Saturday @Niger Delta Avengers blew up two NPDC major crude trunk lines close to Batan flow station in Delta state. At 1:15am on Sunday @Niger Delta Avengers blew up two major Chevron Oil Wells. WELL 7 and WELL 8 close to Abiteye flow station in Delta state.

“All Five Operations were carried out by @Niger Delta Avengers Strike Team. Well Done Soldiers.”

modath:


LRNZH,

My bros in conspiracy theory...

I thought i had an over active imagination but the facelessness of the " attackers" and lack of impact beyond energy down time gave me ideas too...

But how do we explain shutting down their SM page?

LRNZH:


Moddy Baby how have you been?

I hate to fuel assertions like this but these are not normal times. By the way, Nigeria is a seating duck for anybody with ulterior motives.

First Avengers came out so organised from day 1. At a time when oil prices needed a big push because many global oil projects are not profitable below $50/barrel of oil. The FG pleaded and they went quiet once oil price hit $50/barrel. The FG did not behave like a ceasefire was in place. Avengers resurfaced again with venom but this time their twitter handle was suspended, their .com website was taken down.

I wish someone would crack the secrecy surrounding their sponsors just like those of Boko Haram.

Proudlyngwa:

Actually crude needs to be above 70 dollars per barrel for drilling to be profitable under international drilling standards.
The issue is not ,disruption in Nigerian crude being a disrupting power in global crude prices . Its about internal policy changes.
We have been shortchanged for long.
the tide has changed and some elements will not rest until we return to the old moon

LRNZH:


Think a bit differently. It is as if the Avengers are trying to peg Nigeria's oil production to 1M bpd. Once we go below it, they stop. We go above it, they start blowing trunk-lines up. I don't see Niger Delta struggle in this behaviour but an effort to control production from a helpless country. This is pointing fingers to an external sponsor(s).

Firefire:
conspirators, I dey hail oooo.

LRNZH:


My man, you dey so?