Shell Suspends Oil Flow Following Spill in Bayelsa State
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has halted crude oil transportation through the 16-inch Nun River-Kolo Creek trunkline after an oil spill was reported in Bayelsa State. The incident occurred on February 16 in Obololi, a coastal community located along the River Nun, within the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, as confirmed by Mr. Chukuwemka Woke, Director-General of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
On Friday, SPDC’s spokesperson, Mr. Michael Adande, issued a statement acknowledging the suspension of operations and the initiation of response measures. “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), the operator of the SPDC Joint Venture (SPDC JV), can confirm that our Oil Spill Response Team has identified a leak from one of our assets in the Obololi community, S.Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State,” Adande said. He added that the team had promptly isolated the affected line and ceased production, with all regulatory authorities and relevant stakeholders being informed. Plans are underway for a regulator-led Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to assess the cause and ramifications of the spill.
While SPDC has not disclosed the specific volume of oil production impacted by the shutdown, the affected pipeline serves multiple oil fields in Bayelsa, transporting crude to the company’s Kolo manifold. NOSDRA is currently investigating the cause and volume of the leak, noting that the impacted pipeline runs beneath the river. The agency has suggested constructing a temporary dam to divert river water, facilitating access for investigators to the spill site.
Chief Target Segibo, Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, has promised an alternative water supply for the affected community, as the spill has polluted the Nun River, a vital resource for residents. Environmentalists and local leaders have voiced their concerns about the spill’s detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on the river.
The scale of environmental damage and the timeline for the cleanup process remain unclear as investigations progress.
Key Points to Note:
NOSDRA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with F1 Consulting, aiming to mitigate oil spills in the Niger Delta region and other oil-producing areas across Nigeria.
This incident marks the third oil spill attributed to a Shell facility this year, with over 130 spills recorded by the company in 2024.
Nigeria has seen a total of at least 589 oil spills this year, based on data from NOSDRA.
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