0 The Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has insisted that a third party interference on its Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP, in Okolo, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State was responsible for the oil spill that ravaged the area. The company said the spill was caused by a failed crude theft point installed by unknown persons. It would be recalled that a recent spill from SPDC’s 24 inch TNP on November 22, 2014 affected aquatic life and destroyed fishing equipment across communities in Okolo, Rivers State. Spokesperson of Shell, Mr. Joseph Obari, in a statement in Port Harcourt said a Joint Investigation Visit ,JIV, to the site of the incident established that the spill was caused by persons who attempted to steal crude from the pipeline. The statement read, “While the leak which was noticed on November 22, appeared to come from the 24” TNP, as a precautionary measure, SPDC had shut in the adjacent 28” TNP.” The company further said, with the 28” TNP shut, 17 newly discovered crude theft points were removed, before the line was reopened on November 30. Continuing, Obari explained that, “Unfortunately, the 28” TNP had to be shut in again on the same day following a fire outbreak at Gio in Ogoniland (Rivers State). “A sussequent joint investigation visit to the site of the incident at Gio confirmed that the fire emanated from a newly drilled hole,” saying the fire was however put out on December 1, while the line was repaired and reopened the following day,” he said. Explaining that its 24” inch TNP remained shut, the Shell spokesperson said the JIV to Okoloma launch and Gio communities comprised representatives of government regulatory agencies, the affected communities, SPDC and some Non-Governmental Organizations in order to carry the relevant stakeholders along. The statement reads further,”In a goodwill gesture to identify with the people whose means of livelihood have been affected by the spill caused by the crude theft point at Okolo launch, SPDC has sent foodstuff and other relief materials for distribution to communities in the area.”
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 14:59:59 +0000
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