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The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has stated that the reported oil spill from its facility in Imiringi community in Bayelsa State is caused by oil thieves.
The company conducted a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to examine the July 27 oil spill.
The JIV is a mandatory investigation involving regulators, operators, and community representatives to determine the cause, volume, and affected area of the spill.
According to Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, the Media Relations Manager of SPDC, in a statement on August 14, 2024, in Yenagoa, the state capital, three barrels of SPDC's Bonny light crude blend were released into the environment.
SPDC, the operator of the SPDC JV, acknowledged the occurrence of an oil spill from its Kolo creek Well 22T flowline facility at Imiringi on July 27.
Although members of the Imiringi community had claimed that the spill had polluted farmlands and water bodies in the area, SPDC said the entire three barrels had been recovered, leaving a residue.
The joint investigation led by the Government Regulator, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), found that the incident was caused by illegal third-party activity.
Cleanup, remediation, and repair of the breached pipeline are ongoing.
The investigation report was signed off by all members of the joint investigation team.
An environmental advocacy group has called for cleanup and remediation of the impacted area due to the rains, and urged stakeholders to prevent and prosecute third-party spills.
The Deputy Director of the group, Chief Alagoa Morris, urged the relevant authorities to address the remediation of the affected area due to the impending rains.
Morris called on all stakeholders to work towards preventing third-party spills, condemned the act, and urged that the perpetrators be identified and prosecuted.
