Drone attacks in Russia have severely impacted oil infrastructure, prompting refineries to seek alternative export routes. On April 5, a drone attack damaged an oil pipeline in the Leningrad region. The Nizhny Novgorod region also experienced strikes that caused fires at two oil facilities.
In March, drone strikes damaged at least 40% of oil storage tanks at the port of Primorsk. A total of 19 drones were shot down in the Leningrad region, while 30 were intercepted in Nizhny Novgorod. Russian refineries are now looking for new ways to export their products.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy is actively combating illegal refining. On May 1, 2026, they destroyed five illegal refining sites in Rivers State. They also intercepted equipment used for illegal pipeline connections near the Soku Gas Plant corridor.
Key statistics from Nigeria:
- 85,000 litres of suspected crude oil discovered in Rivers State
- 78,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) found
- The Navy’s operations have curtailed criminal activities along the Calabar-Oron channel
The Luanda Refinery in Angola is currently the country’s only fully functional refining plant. It has a capacity of 65,000 Barrels Per Stream Day (BPSD). Angola exported 1,152,930 barrels of oil per day in March 2026.
The Luanda Refinery is undergoing expansion to increase fuel production fourfold. The Cabinda Refinery is also set to begin commercial operations before the end of the second quarter of 2026.
These developments highlight the ongoing challenges faced by oil refineries amid geopolitical tensions and illegal activities. As Russian facilities adapt to changing circumstances, Nigerian authorities continue to clamp down on illegal refining operations.