Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Trans Niger Pipeline operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has discharged five barrels of crude oil into Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, the JIV Report has confirmed.
Recall that SweetCrude reported a fresh oil spill from Shell’s Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo community few days ago, the same community where SPDC is carrying out remediation and mangrove restoration following its devastating oil spillage in 2008.
In the JIV report seen by our correspondent, the Shell’s TNP discharged 98 water and 2percent crude into Bodo, due to the the ongoing flushing of the TNP, with residual crude oil of about five barrels.
Reacting, a Spokesperson for the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Michael Adande said the impact of the spill, both within and outside the SPDC JV right of way, was minimal since the TNP has not transported crude oil since mid-June 2022.
Adande assured that cleanup of the impacted area and repair work on the pipeline were underway.
“The spill from the Bomu-Bonny section of the SPDC JV’s Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on 3 August 2022 was largely water (98%) from the ongoing flushing of the TNP, with residual crude oil of about five barrels as established by the signed report of the Joint Investigation Visit led by regulators and involving representatives of the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and the community.
“Owing to the high level of theft, the SPDC has not processed crude oil through the TNP since mid-June 2022.
“Cleanup of the impacted area and repair work on the pipeline are under way.”
It will be recalled that in 2008 Bodo community witnessed a devastating oil spill due to corrosion from Shell’s TNP, which discharged over 500,000 barrels of crude into the mangroves, land and waterways thereby ruining the people’s source of livelihoods.
In 2015, Shell accepted liability for the spills, agreeing to pay £55 million to Bodo community and to clean up their lands and creeks.
After years of delays, the clean-up is currently ongoing, under the auspices of the internationally recognized Bodo Mediation Initiative, BMI and it is being handled by four different contractors.
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