SHELL Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is set to resume operations in its Western Division of Warri, Delta State, officials of the firm have disclosed.
The closure of its western operations has had a substantial impact on the production level of the Anglo-Dutch corporation, as thousands of barrels of oil which amounted to about a quarter of its production were dropped.
The disruption of the operations has also led to a sharp rise in the price of oil in the international market and adversely affected the Nigerian economy, which realises over 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings from oil. Warri is the headquarters of the division.
Dropping the hint yesterday in Asaba, Delta State was the company’s Head of Delta State Relations, Mr. Joel Okandeji, during a courtesy call on the state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah.
Okandeji explained that the company had been forced to relocate elsewhere because of youth restiveness, but was now on the verge of returning to the area following peace efforts of former Governor James Ibori which is being consolidated upon by his successor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan.
Shell’s western operations span the three states of Delta, Edo and Ondo, he disclosed, adding that the oil corporation was very to complement the efforts of Uduaghan in achieving lasting peace in the Niger Delta region.
He said: “The relative peace in the region which Ibori worked so tirelessly at achieving in the state and is being consolidated upon by Uduaghan is the reason for our planned return to the area.”
An elated Djebah gave assurance that the state government would not relent in providing an enabling environment for the company to carry out a smooth operation.
He said Uduaghan’s administration placed great emphasis on peace and security, which was the reason the issues topped the three point agenda of the government. The planned return of Shell, he said, was a testimony that the peace efforts of the government were beginning to yield fruit.
He tasked the returning oil company to complement the efforts of the state government towards achieving a lasting peace in the region, which would in turn enhance the oil firm’s operations.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Fred Nielsen, said yesterday that his company had always adopted the responsibility of joining hands with government and all stakeholders to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the Niger-Delta crisis.
Nielsen, who spoke in Abeokuta during a courtesy call on the Ogun State Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, acknowledged that there were several challenges in the Niger-Delta area but noted that such challenges were not insurmountable.
His words: “Chevron has a responsibility in the Niger-Delta .We have always said and will continue to say that we must be part of the solution.
“We will continue to work with all parties there till a solution is found to the challenges.”
Nielsen had called on Governor Daniel to discuss the progress of work on the multi-billion dollar Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (ONKLG) project.