Tags: Terror attacks , Oil Pipelines

Jaipur: In a shocking revelation, intelligence agencies warned oil companies that the pipelines are on terror target, thus, security needs to be strengthened.

Taking cognigance of the intelligence report, Rajasthan Principal Home Secretary S N Thanvi directed police officials to strengthen security for 2231 km pipeline passing through the state.

According to the reports, terrorists are suspected to attack the pipeline running between Jaipur, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Pali, Jodhpur and Sirohi districts.

Thanvi asked the police to be extra alert. In the present security arrangements, one guard during day and two during the night are deputed at intervals of every 8 km of pipeline.

It has been directed that if these guards, deployed by oil companies, inform the police of any suspicious activities, they should act immediately.

These measures are being taken as there has been a rise in the number of oil theft cases. These incidents have also brought to fore the vulnerability of these pipelines for terror attack.

It is worth mentioning here that Middle East oil companies are spending billions of dollars on security every year, and the cost is rising fast with Saudi Arabia alone expected to spend $14 billion over the next six years.

Energy producers are investing heavily in protecting pipelines, refineries, rigs, tankers and other assets.

An attack by al-Qaeda militants on the Abqaiq oil facility in Saudi Arabia in 2006 focused the minds of local energy producers on the threat posed by terrorism.

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