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    Repiglican Roast

    A spirited discussion of public policy and current issues

    Name:
    Location: The mouth of being

    I'm furious about my squandered nation.

    Thursday, November 01, 2007

    Nigeria Oil

    [...]

    OPEC member Nigeria is the world's eighth (8th) biggest exporter of crude oil, but it is unable to meet domestic (inside the country) demand for refined products (finished oil products) because sabotage, mismanagement and corruption have crippled (slowed down and broken) its refineries. Its sweet, low-sulfur crude is the largest single (one) source of petroleum for Philadelphia refineries in the USA. Nigerian crude makes up more than 40% of the feedstock (base ingredient) at Sunoco's refineries in Philadelphia and Marcus Hook. The Sunoco refineries buy one of every ten barrels that Nigeria produces. Attacks on the oil industry by militants (or freedom fighters, one mans freedom fighter is another mans militant) in the southern Niger Delta, which have shut down more than 500,000 barrels per day of crude production, have compounded (added to) the problem recently. Both Warri and Kaduna refineries are supplied by one crude oil pipeline that was bombed by militants (freedom fighters) in a series of attacks on February 18,2006.

    Forced to Import

    Even at full capacity (maximum output), Nigerian refineries supply less than half the country's fuel needs, forcing it to import costly fuel from refineries in Europe. From 1,500 wells in the Niger delta, Nigeria sent $9 billion worth of crude oil last year to refineries in the US. In the marshes, sweltering (hot and humid) swamps of mangrove and palm of the Niger Delta, young men armed with fast boats, old weapons and an ancient warrior tradition (custom) have taken on the government of Africa's most populous nation. Angered by decades of exploitation (being used by other people like slaves), the rebels (or freedom fighters) have launched a war of sabotage. They have kidnapped foreign workers, commandeered (taken control of by force) oil installations and blocked pipelines in an attempt (try) to force the oil companies and the government to return more of Nigeria 's wealth to its source (return money back to the countries people). The uprising has reduced Nigeria's 2-million-barrels-per-day production by as much as a third (1/3).

    Nigeria is among the poorest third of African countries - its per capita income (average yearly income) has fallen from a high of nearly $1,000 in the 1970s to $260 a year, about half that of the average African nation. Delta villages are largely (mostly) without schools, clinics, electricity or roads. Most residents drink directly from the Niger River, which also serves as their toilet. Because more money can be made by importing fuel and selling it on the black market, Nigeria's four refineries have fallen into disrepair. It is practically (almost) impossible to find a gallon of gas (petrol) in a region that rests atop (sits on top of) 22 billion barrels of oil. Natural gas reserves are well over 100 trillion ft? (2,800 km?), the gas reserves are three times (3X) as substantial (large) as the crude oil reserves.


    [...]

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