Communities in the Nembe Creek Trunk Line of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Rivers State have physically prevented Shell workers from cleaning up an oil spill at the trunk line.
The trunk line which is one of its major crude evacuation facilities in the Niger Delta region.
In a statement signed by the external affairs director of SPDC, Mrs.Diezan Alison-Madueke and made availabe to Daily Champion in Port Harcourt, the company said the oil leakage occurred on March 4 this year in the trunk line passing through the Cawthorne Channel Field.
“SPDC�s, the statement added sent a clean up team to the spill area and repair the damaged line, but were been physically prevented from working”, said Mrs. Alison-Madueke .
The statement also explained that as soon as the oil leakage was detected, SPDC immediately shut down the flow stations which produce into the trunk line and quickly deployed booms to contain the spill and minimise the impact on the environment.
According to the company, Shell�s piling/crane barge has been seized by people from its host communities adding that “unknown people” have also removed the booms placed to contain the spill.
Although the statement was silent on reasons for the action of its host communities, the company, however, appealed to the communities to allow its repair teams access to the oil spill area for immediate clean up, “as delay could expose the environment to further damage”.
“SPDC is working to replace the booms while the repair teams continue to remain on standby and will remobilise to site once they are assured of access and safety”, the statement added.
Expressing “deep concern” that the action of the communities has delayed a quick response to the oil spill, the company, however, commended the Rivers State Government, Federal Ministry of Environment and some community leaders for their efforts in ensuring that the repair teams and the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) gain access to the area for immediate clean up.
The JIT comprises officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Environment, Department of Petroleum Resources and SPDC as well as representatives of SPDC host communities, The statement added.