Oil & Gas, Solid Minerals and Blue Economy Digest Magazine (2024)

19/07/2021

ATALA OIL REMAINS BAYELSA's PRIZED ASSET, SAYS GOV. DIRI
........APEALS TO FG TO CANCEL REVOCATION

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Wednesday, made emphatic clarifications on the state's position about its Atala oil marginal field (OML 46), which licence was revoked by the federal government through the Department of Petroleum Resources in April 2020.

Governor Diri, who was commenting on the issue publicly for the first time amid the controversy it had generated in recent times, expressed shock over the revocation.

He said the marginal oil field remained a prized asset of the state to which it is sentimentally attached and called on the federal government to reconsider its decision on the matter.

The governor stated this position before commencement of the weekly state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.

He called on all concerned parties, including the DPR, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, to consider returning the oil field to the state.

He noted that the people and government of Bayelsa were emotionally and sentimentally attached to it, saying is the only oil asset owned by the state.

His words: “There has been this issue of the Bayelsa State-owned Atala Oil Field. We kept a studied silence over the matter because we needed to have all the information that led to the revocation of the licence on our state-owned asset.

“Bayelsans are emotionally and sentimentally attached to that asset as it is the only oil asset we own even though it is a marginal oil field. It was a surprise and rude shock to us that the licence was revoked.

“Part of what I have done in the last one week of my absence was to state the position of the Bayelsa State Government, which I did very clearly to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So our position on Atala Oil Field is that it is a prized asset of Bayelsa State and that revocation should be cancelled. Unequivocally, we have said so and we believe that those in authority would see reason why we are sentimentally and emotionally attached to the Atala Oil Field.

“Bayelsa State government might not have the financial capacity or the technical know-how. But the government is ready to partner financial and technical experts to ensure that the field goes into full production.

“Therefore, let me use the opportunity to inform Exco that your government has actually taken a position on the Atala Oil Field and that it should remain a property of the Bayelsa State government.

“I call on all who are concerned on the Atala Oil Field, namely DPR, the Petroleum Ministry, NNPC and indeed our own son, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, to do all within their powers to ensure that the Atala Oil Field is returned to Bayelsa State.”

Senator Diri also disclosed that in the past week, he met with foreign missions and high commissions in Abuja in a bid to attract foreign direct investments to the state.

The governor stressed that the move was aimed at changing the stereotype of the state on insecurity, and expressed optimism that these dialogues would payoff soon for the state.
End

11/05/2021

SPDC's PIPELINE SPILLED 276 BARRELS INTO BAYELSA, RIVERS COMMUNITIES IN APRIL, Says REPORT.

The 14-Inch crude trunkline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the Niger Delta spilled 276 barrels of Shell’s Bonny Light crude blend in three incidents in April 2021.

The Okordia-Rumekpe crude pipeline is part of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) network crisscrossing SPDC’s onshore fields which conveys crude to the oil firm’s crude export terminal at Bonny in Rivers.

It was learnt on Monday that the 276 barrels of crude is the cumulative volume of spill from a section of the pipeline that transverses Bayelsa and Rivers communities in the month under review.

Checks at the oil firm’s spill incident portal indicates that two of the spills were caused by sabotage while one was traced to equipment failure.

According to Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) reports on the incidents, the leak which occurred at Ikararama in Bayelsa on April 7 traceable to equipment failure caused a leakage of 110 barrels.

JIV is a statutory exercise to ascertain the cause of any recorded spill incident involving oil firms, regulators, host communities and state Ministries of Environment.

The JIV reports shows that the spill reported on April 7, at Ikarama in Bayelsa was traced to equipment failure discharged some 110 barrels into the environment

The leak incident on April 13 at Ihuowu in Rivers attributed to sabotage by the JIV report caused a spill of 157 barrels of crude.

The report further showed that also on April 14 at Ukpeliede in Rivers, the same Okordia-Rumekpe trunkline was breached by vandals leaving a leak of nine barrels.

According to the SPDC’s spills records, oil spill response activities were ongoing at the spill sites while recovery of spilled crude would be completed in May 2021.

Also SPDC reported that it concluded investigation in seven spill incidents from its operations across the Niger Delta with a total spilled volume of 435.01 barrels of crude.

Of the seven leak incidents, six were caused by sabotage while one was traced to equipment failure.

Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager at SPDC declined comments on the integrity of the frequently breached 14-inch Okordia-Rumekpe pipeline.
Culled from : NAN.

16/04/2021

NATIONAL GAS IMPLEMENTATION : 100 million Nigerians TO BE LIFTED OUT OF POVERTY ,
Says Sylva.

Lagos — The Federal Government through the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva has revealed plans to lift no fewer than one hundred million Nigerians out of poverty through the implementation of National Gas Expansion Programme, NGEP.

In a statement on Monday, Sylva said the Federal Government was committed to giving jobs to millions of young Nigerians.

He said, “Counting the impacts of the programme on our socioeconomic space within the first year of its launching, the administration further stepped up its commitment to industrialising Nigeria through gas utilisation by declaring year 2021 to 2030 ‘Decade of Gas’.

“With proven gas reserves of over 200 million cubic feet and natural gas presents an opportunity for the nation to use gas as the catalyst for its socio-economic renaissance.”

Culled from Sweet Crude

02/02/2021

$3.6 billion DOLLA INTERGRATED GAS PROCESSING AND METHANOL PLANT IN BRASS: NNPC
PROMISESTIMELY COMPLETION.

..-----PROJECT TO ATTRACT OVER 30,000 JOBS.

Jan. 30, 2021

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it is committed towards the timely completion of the $3.6 billion Integrated Gas Processing and Methanol Plant in Odioma, Brass Island, Bayelsa State.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, made the commitment at the signing of the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the project which was held Friday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that the facility is projected to be the largest methanol plant in Africa and the first in Nigeria.

The project is being executed by the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Limited (BFPCL), an incorporated entity owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), DSV Engineering, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Speaking at the event, Mallam Kyari said the Corporation would do everything possible to make the project come to fruition, noting that NNPC was pleased with the current efforts by the Federal Government to provide value for Nigeria’s gas resources.

Describing the FID as one of the most significant FIDs in recent times, Kyari said the project was in tandem with the earlier declaration of 2020 as the year of gas and 2021-2030 as the decade of gas by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

He remarked that the construction phase of the project would create about 30,000 in addition to the 5,000 permanent jobs which would come in place when the plant becomes operational.

Earlier in his welcome address, the BFPCL Board Chairman, who is also the NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, Engr. Usman Yusuf, disclosed that already a lump sum Turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract has been awarded to the China Tianchen Engineering Corporation (TCC) while TATA Consulting Engineers are providing project management consultancy for the delivery of the plant in 2024.

“In 2017, BFPCL secured an Initialed Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with SPDC JV for a 25-year supply of 270MMscf/d rich gas to the project.

“The integrated project is estimated to cost about USD3.6 billion and is expected to deliver 10,000TPD Methanol products to the export and local markets,” he stated.

In his presentation, the Executive Vice-Chairman of BFPCL, Mr. Ben Okoye, said the signing of the FID was an affirmative vote and consent by the Board to construct the plant.

He explained that with a production capacity of 10,000 tons per day (tpd), the facility would be the largest methanol plant in Africa with a huge potential to provide gainful employment to many youths both at the construction and operational stages.
CuLled from TheWill.

24/01/2021

OIL THEFT : NSCDC IMPOUNDS 119 GALOONS OF ADULTRATED AGO

Jan.24, 2021"

In its efforts against oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the country, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has impounded 119 gallons of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, popularly known as diesel.

The NSCDC also arrested one suspect, along with a salon car used in converying the products from an illegal oil dump in Rumuomasi area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Rivers State Command, Oguntuase Michael, who conducted newsmen round the illegal dump, said the Corps was working to ensure that illegal products do not find their ways to the market.

Michael, disclosed that NSCDC Commandant in Rivers State, Muktar Lawal, had constituted a special Anti-Vandal Team, specialised in identifying illegal dumps in the state, and will not rest on its oars against illegal bunkering.

“On Tuesday, 19th January 2021, the anti-vandal team of the Command arrested a suspect by name Mr. Ezike Shoke with a Volkswagen Jetta car loaded with suspected illegally refined AGO in 56 gallons, 25liters each, at an illegal dump situated at 34 Arochukwu Street, Rumuomasi in Port Harcourt City L.G.A of Rivers State.

Oil theft, vandalism reduced during 2020 yuletide, says NSCDC

“The illegal dump where the suspected products were seized is a residential area, making it unacceptable and dangerous for the residence of the area, due to the adverse health effects which in extreme case results to death.

“Other items seized at the crime scene include 57 empty gallons found at the scene.

“Investigation is ongoing to arrest all those connected to the dastardly act and charged to court for possible

Foto: *NSCDC impounded gallons of adulterated AGO

24/01/2021

MARITIME SECURITY : NIMASA PARTNERS WITH PAP

Jan. 24, 2021I

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has declared its intention to work in partnership with the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in the fight against piracy and other crimes in the country’s maritime domain.

Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this in Abuja during a working visit to the interim Sole Administrator of PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.).

Jamoh underscored the importance of collaboration among relevant agencies and communities in the quest for maritime security, saying, “We should be working together in partnership to help us appreciate and evaluate the challenges from our various perspectives and collectively come up with solutions that would work for all of us, and the country at large.

“Security problems more often than not have a local content. So, as the country’s maritime regulatory agency, we want to partner the amnesty programme, which interfaces with the littoral communities, to nip the security challenges in the bud, and stand our nation in good stead for the optimisation of our huge maritime resources.”

Jamoh has prioritised advocacy for inter-agency cooperation in the fight against maritime insecurity since his appointment last year.

He stated, “We cannot proffer solution to the issues and crisis in the Niger Delta without the collaboration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.”

The Director-General said a Maritime Intelligence Unit was recently established by NIMASA to help in the identification of early warning signs in order to prevent security breaches in the littoral areas. He revealed that many of the assets being installed and deployed under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (the Deep Blue Project) had intelligence gathering capabilities through air, land and sea surveillance.

Jamoh stated that NIMASA was planning to introduce educational, entrepreneurship training, and skills acquisition programmes in the areas of fishing, clearing and forwarding, and legal bunkering, for people in the coastal communities as a way of empowering them and discouraging criminal tendencies.

Dikio commended Jamoh for his vision and commitment to maritime security. He also praised the NIMASA Director-General for his passion for inter-agency coordination and collaboration in the security of Nigeria’s maritime environment.

He said detecting the early warning signs and engaging early responses to prevent security challenges at their early stages would be vigorously pursued.

The PAP boss expressed the willingness of his agency to partner with NIMASA, especially in the empowerment of the locals. He suggested that the people’s knowledge of the local communities should be leveraged in the area of information gathering.

Dikio advised that the training programme being planned by NIMASA should target subjects relevant to the Niger Delta in order to impact them directly and get to the root of the problem. He also suggested the appointment of nodal officers from PAP and NIMASA to interface and harmonise action points to fast-track the actualisation of the partnership for the overall good of the maritime sector.

Culled from Sweetcrude reports

Foto: *Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh (right), and interim Sole Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) , Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.), greeting with elbow bumps when Jamoh paid a working visit to the Amnesty office in Abuja, recently.

24/01/2021

SPACE X CONVERTS TWO ULTRADEEPWATWR RIGS INTO ROCKET LAUNCH PADS

Commercial space flight operator SpaceX has purchased two oil rigs from Valaris for conversion into seagoing rocket launch pads, according to multiple reports and court records.

Orbital launch trajectories are heavily affected by location, and a sea-based launch site allows the operator to optimize the rocket's payload capacity and reduce cost for the mission.

The concept has been used successfully before. In 1999, the space company Sea Launch converted a used MODU into a launch pad for Ukrainian-built Zenit rockets. It ran a successful commercial service for communications satellite deployments until 2014, when it ceased operations due to military and political developments in Ukraine. Over the span of 15 years in business, Sea Launch put more than 30 payloads into orbit from its sea-based platform. The Chinese government still uses a similar ship-based arrangement for launching its Long March 11 rockets from the Yellow Sea.

SpaceX's two rigs - the former Ensco 8500 and Ensco 8501 - have been renamed Deimos and Phobos, names shared by two of the moons of Mars. They are currently located at the port of Brownsville, Texas.

According to CNBC, a SpaceX subsidiary purchased the two units from Valaris shortly before the rig operator declared bankruptcy last August.

SpaceX has not commented publicly on its plans for the two units, but last June, CEO Elon Musk confirmed in a social media post that the company "is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon and hypersonic travel around Earth." The firm's most ambitious project - perhaps the most ambitious spaceflight project of any kind - is a reusable heavy launch rocket dubbed Starship, designed for operations up to and including manned missions to Mars. Starship's R&D facility is located in Boca Chica Beach, Texas, just outside of Brownsville.

Plans for conversion are not yet known, but SpaceX has posted job openings for personnel for "designing and building an operational offshore rocket launch facility." Requirements include the "ability to work on an offshore platform in Brownsville, Texas." Budget may not be a limiting factor: Musk is the world's wealthiest person, and SpaceX has annual revenues of $1.2 billion (and growing).

The Ensco 8500 series is a class of ultradeepwater semisubs capable of drilling in 8,500 feet of water. They are fitted with eight thrusters, 25 megawatts of generator power, two 80-ton deck cranes, a 50-ton gantry and accommodations for 150 personnel. They were intended to be uniformly-built sisters with high parts commonality, high uptime and low operating costs. The first unit began operations in 2009, and Ensco 8503, 8505 and 8506 are still in Valaris' listed fleet.

When the seven 8500 series rigs were ordered in 2007-8, Ensco (now part of Valaris) paid more than $500 million for each. In a sign of the condition of today's offshore drilling market, SpaceX acquired two of them for a total of $7 million, according to court filings.
Culled from Maritime Executive

21/01/2021

HAMZA USMAN REAPPOINTED AS NPA MD FOR ANOTHER TENURE.

Jan. 21, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed Ms Hadiza Bala Usman as the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

This was conveyed in statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

According the statement, President Buhari also reconstituted the boards of the NPA and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

The statement titled “President Buhari re-appoints Hadiza Bala Usman as NPA MD, approves board members for NPA, TCN,” read: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority for an additional five-year tenure.

“Also approved is the reconstitution of the Non-Executive Board of the NPA, with Mr Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye (from South-west zone) as Chairman.

“Other members of the board are Ekenyem Nwafor-Orizu (South-East zone), Akinwunmi Ricketts (South-South zone), Ghazali Mohammed Mijinyawa (North-East zone), Mustapha Amin Dutse (North-West zone), and Abdulwahab Adesina (North-Central zone).

The statement said members of the new TCN board would oversee the selection of a new Managing Director for the organisation.

Foto: *Hadiza Bala Usman

14/01/2021

NIGERIA's OIL SECTOR DECLINES BY 14% IN 2020

Jan.13, 2021

The Organisation of Petroluem Exporting Countries ( OPEC) says Nigeria, which is Africa's largest oil sector experienced a decline by approximately 14% INEC year 2020.
OPEC's report which was disclosed in its Monthly Oil Market Report, MOMR for December stated that Nigeria’s oil sector fell by 13.9% compared with a 6.6% decline in the second quarter of same year.

On the other hand, the country’s non-oil economic activities declined by 2.5% y-o-y. This is a slight recovery from the 6.1% y-o-y decline seen in 2Q20.

Nigeria’s real GDP decline by 3.6% y-o-y in 3Q20 after seeing a 6.1% y-o-y contraction in 2Q20. This was the second recession in the country in four years, resulting from a nationwide lockdown implemented in response to the current pandemic.

The GDP grew 12.1% on a quarterly basis – the highest quarterly growth seen since 2Q10 and a sharp recovery from the 5% contraction seen in 2Q20.

OPEC said inflationary pressure continued to challenge Nigeria’s economy, as the CPI rose to 14.2% y-o-y in October from 13.71% in September, due to inflated food prices caused by the adverse effects of ongoing border closures.

“Otherwise, the manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, PMI continued its momentum and increased to 50.2 in November from 49.4 in October amid an expansion in output and consumption activities”.

Like most countries around the globe, particularly commodity producers, OPEC says outlook for Nigeria’s economy remained challenged by COVID-19 developments and developments in oil prices, along with domestic inflationary pressures and fiscal constraints.

The country’s oil production keeps declining with 1, 329 million barrels per day recorded in November.

A production of 1, 329b/d in November is lesser than 1, 347millionb/d recorded in October.

Total output of 1, 332millionb/d was recorded as at September 20, while 1, 351milionb/d was declared in the third quarter of 2020.

The production decline which began in the third quarter of last year saw the country’s output fall between 1.5mb/d and 1.7mb/d from 2018 and the first quarter of 2020.

Foto:Shell operated Bonny Oil Terminal.

14/01/2021

INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS CALL ON UN FOR ACTIONS TO PROTECT SEAFARERS

A group of 85 institutional investors representing over $2 trillion in assets, joined forces calling on the United Nations to take further action to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis for seafarers brought on by the global restrictions enacted to control the coronavirus. In an open letter to the UN Secretary-General, the investors in consultation with key marine organizations such as the International Labor Organisation and the International Transport Workers’ Federation added their voice to the call to recognize seafarers as key workers and specific actions to ensure crews’ health and safety while maintaining global trade.

“As investors, it is clear that this is no longer solely a shipping industry problem nor a crisis that the shipping industry can resolve on their own,” said Jenn-Hui Tan, Global Head of Stewardship & Sustainable Investing at London-based Fidelity International, which is leading this latest effort. “Shipping is responsible for 90 percent of global trade and holds the key not just to a global economic recovery from the devastation of COVID-19, but to maintaining our current way of life.”

In the letter to Secretary-General Guterres, the investors write, “We recognize that any solution here has to be premised on a multi-lateral approach aimed at facilitating seafarers' movement while protecting local communities from re-infection risk. As investors, we acknowledge our responsibility with regard to the companies of which we are lenders or owners to raise our concerns and seek constructive responses.”

The signatories to the letter, which include leading global investment firms Achmea Investment Management, ACTIAM, Ethos Foundation, Lombard Odier Investment Management, and MFS Investment Management, identify what they call the clear need for action. They support the ongoing call to designate seafarers as key workers and the establishment of systematic processes to enable safe crew changes such as safe corridors and testing regimes.

As Covid-19 vaccines are being rolled out, the group also says that it is looking to the leadership of the UN to ensure key workers including seafarers are included in the priority groups by their respective governments and that a complementary arrangement can be made by the UN or the IMO to secure a reasonable supply of vaccines for seafarers to effect immediate crew change where it is (over)due.

“We believe vaccinating a critical mass of the seafarer population is the most effective way of resolving the crisis,” the group writes in its letter while also calling for other actions. They also call for a publicity campaign to raise awareness as well as sharing the IMO’s 12-step protocol with relevant entities to facilitate universal implementation.

They conclude by highlighting the role that they believe seafarers will play in maintaining global supply lines and economic recovery. “We believe that the sustainability of the maritime industry and the humane treatment of seafarers affects all investors as well as our portfolio companies that depend on these workers.”

Culled from Maritime Executive.

14/01/2021

MENANCE OF PLASTICS IN THE OCEANS :
MAERSK RENEWS AND EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP TO RID OCEANS OF PLASTIC

A.P. Moller-Maersk announced a three-year extension and expansion of its partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, a foundation dedicated to ridding the oceans of plastics. In addition to Maersk Supply Service providing marine offshore support, the shipping and logistics company will also provide end-to-end supply chain management services for The Ocean Cleanup’s ocean and river projects.

“As a responsible maritime operator, we are committed to ensuring that the oceans can remain a healthy environment for generations to come. We are therefore very pleased to not just prolong but broaden the partnership agreement initiated in 2018,” explains Mette Refshauge, VP, Corporate Communications & Sustainability at Maersk.

Since 2018, Maersk has provided offshore support for The Ocean Cleanup’s offshore operations. The extension of the partnership will enable the deployment of the next ocean cleanup systems as well as deployment of the foundations technology to capture plastics before they enter the oceans. As part of the partnership agreement, Maersk will also assist The Ocean Cleanup in deploying scientific sensor technology aboard Maersk’s fleet to map plastic floating in the oceans and help the organization have a better understanding of the severity of the problem they are working to solve.

Founded in 2013, The Ocean Cleanup, which is headquartered in Rotterdam, employs approximately 95 engineers and researchers developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Their aim is to achieve a 90 percent reduction of floating ocean plastic by 2040 by stemming the inflow of plastics via rivers and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean. The foundation is working to develop products from the reclaimed plastics, which can contribute to additional cleanup efforts. In 2019, they launched the Interceptor, to extract plastic in rivers before reaching the ocean.

“Maersk’s support over the last three years has been invaluable to furthering our mission. We are grateful to not only renew this partnership, but to strengthen it with their end-to-end logistics service. This contribution to our mission will not only help us clean more plastic from the ocean, but it will help us to effectively deploy more Interceptors river cleaning systems, and develop our next products made of certified plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” said Lonneke Holierhoek, Director of Science & Operations at The Ocean Cleanup.

Besides Maersk Supply Service’s support with vessel operations and offshore project management, Maersk will now support The Ocean Cleanup with logistics end-to-end handling services, ranging from worldwide shipment from different locations to airfreight, container and special transport, customs clearance, and warehouse and storage management. Maersk will also develop a transport and supply chain manager at The Ocean Cleanup´s office in Rotterdam that will serve as the single channel to engage with the full range of Maersk’s supply chain and transport services and help to develop the supply chain management capacity at the foundation.
Culled from Maritime Executive

06/01/2021

PREVAIL ON SHELL TO PAY $3.6bn BONGA OIL SPIL FINE ,...ARTISANAL FISHERMEN TELLS FG
........Says COVID-19 has compounded their problems.

Jan 5, 2021
Following the massive oil spill caused by Bonga offshore oil field eleven years ago which adversely affected several fishing waters and settlements, the
Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN) has urged the Federal Government to prevail on Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), to pay the $3.6 billion fine imposed on it by oil industry regulators over the 2011 Bonga oilfield spill.
In an interview on the issue in Yenagoa recently, ARFAN Cordinator, Rev. Samuel Ayadi, noted that the fishermen were yet to RECOVERD from the adverse effects of the 2011 massive Bonga oil spill that has devasited their sources of fishing coupled with e 2020 Covid-19 Lockdown that had compounded their woos.
According to Ayadi, the adverse effects of the spill on fisher men since 2011 is still much as fishing has become so low in the nation's territorial waters since 2011.
The Cordinator therefore appealed to the federal government to prevail on Shell to obey the courts and pay a $3.6 bn fine imposed by regulators for the Bonga spill incident stressing , the compensation would ensure that fishermen thrown out of business would recover, and also in this vain, urged the Federal Government to leverage on its successes in containing the COVID-19 Pandemic to avert another lockdown in the new year.

The fishermen noted that they were yet to recover from the adverse impact of the 2020 lockdown on the fisheries sector, and lamented their exclusion from the palliatives given to the agric sector to guarantee food security. " We should be included this regard, he appealed.

It would be recalled that on December 20, 2011, during loading of crude at Bonga fields within OML 118 situated at 120 kilometres off the Atlantic coastline, the export line ruptured and discharged crude oil into the sea.

The export line, according to a Joint Investigation Report by National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and SNEPCO spewed about 40,000 barrels (6.4 million litres) of crude oil into the sea.
Giving further insight on why the plight of the fishermen must be looked into passionately, Ayadi noted that having complied with a regulatory order by NOSDRA to pull out of fishing to avoid catch contaminated fish that could compromise public health, they deserved to be indemnified for loss of income whilst the clean up lasted.

NODRA had in March 2015 imposed the fine on Shell for discharging 40,000 barrels of crude into the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 20, 2011.

A break down of the fine comprised a $1.8 billion as compensation for the damages done to natural resources and consequential loss of income by the affected shoreline communities as well as a punitive damage of $1.8 bn.

However following a legal action instituted by Shell, at a Federal High Court in Lagos, Trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on June 20, 2018 dismissed the suit challenging the imposition of $3.6 bn fine on it by NOSDRA.

The fishermen impacted by the December 20, 2011 spill from the Bonga Oilfields applauded the judiciary for the judgment which upheld the fine, but regretted that the judgment was yet to be complied with.
Culled from NAN.

Foto: Skytruth also provided detailed measurements of the visible oil slick:

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Oil & Gas, Solid Minerals and Blue Economy Digest Magazine

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