By Christian Purefoy, CNN// <![CDATA[ // // <![CDATA[ // -1) {document.write('August 3, 2010 -- Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT)');} else {document.write('August 3, 2010 9:22 a.m. EDT');} // ]]>August 3, 2010 — Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT) STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Illegal refineries distill diesel from crude oil by heating over naked flames
- Worker: “I cannot count the number of people who have died in explosions”
- Nigeria is major oil exporter, but most in Niger Delta live on less than $2 a day
- Shell managing director estimates around 100,000 barrels stolen a day
Niger Delta, Nigeria (CNN) — The young man, his body glistening with black oil and sweat, poured more oil onto the fire. The flames roared, heating two barrels of oil to explosive temperatures. He escaped to a safer distance, a slight smile breaking his grim face – he had survived.
“This job is very dangerous,” he explains, asking to remain anonymous. “The smoke, the heat – I cannot count the number of people who have died in explosions because they cannot escape the flames.”