The Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), loses an average of N2.2 billion yearly to illegal tapping of its raw water pipeline that runs fromKaduna River.
The water generates power for the running of the refinery, serves as coolants for its equipment and is also deployed to combating fire outbreaks.
Sequel to the series of tapping, the refinery now spends more on diesel and other material inputs in the maintenance of its generators and other equipment.
KRPC Managing Director, Malam Idi Mukhtar who spoke in Kaduna, said the consumption of raw water from the tapped pipes by settlers who encroach KRPC premises was an unnecessary additional burden to the refinery industrial requirements, which must be resolved urgently by relevant state government agencies.
Other form of losses to this practice is that it slows down the build-up rate of water in the reserve tanks which endangers the refinery. This is because the plant is expected to maintain a minimum level of water requirement that is considered safe for operations, the he added.
