00:00 A blast at an illegal oil refinery in southern Nigeria on Monday has killed dozens of people,
00:07 including two pregnant women. That's according to a local security official and community
00:12 leader.
00:13 The explosion took place in Rivers State. Illegal refining is common in the country's
00:18 oil-rich Niger Delta region. Impoverished locals tap pipelines to make fuel to sell
00:24 for a profit.
00:26 But the practice is often deadly. Nigeria has tried to clamp down on illegal refineries
00:31 for years, but without much success.
00:35 Local environmental groups say part of the problem is that powerfully connected politicians
00:39 and security officials are involved.
00:42 Oil theft is one of the factors pushing major companies operating in Nigeria to shift their
00:47 focus to deep-water operations.
00:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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