NOSDRA Accesses Oil Spill at Shell Terminal in Bonny

The incident occurred at a loading terminal of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Port Harcourt. It was caused by a rupture in the pipeline operated by the firm, affecting the Oyorokot community in the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Leading the NOSDRA team was the Director General of the agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Woke, who said the visit was to evaluate SPDC’s comprehensive efforts in managing the incident.

“Our presence here ahead of the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) scheduled for tomorrow underscores our commitment to ensuring the site’s readiness for addressing the containment strategies.

“It is imperative that we assess both the immediate measures and long-term plans to manage and remediate the spill’s effects,” Mr Woke stated.

He praised the proactive steps taken by the company in containing and mitigating the spill’s impact on local communities, emphasising the importance of not just stopping further leakage but also alleviating community distress and preventing the spill’s spread.

The NOSDRA chief underscored the agency’s dual role of environmental stewardship and rapid response capability. reinforcing the organisation’s dedication to minimising ecological damage and collaborating closely with industry partners for effective solutions.

In response, the Commander of Emergency Response at Shell Nigeria, Mr Abatam Nwosu, reiterated the company’s commitment to prioritising community safety and environmental protection.

“Our protocols are stringent, focusing first on human safety and environmental integrity. We’ve enacted multiple responsive actions, including containment via maritime vessels, though pinpointing leak origins in open waters is complex.

“We are working in alignment with NOSDRA and appreciate the continued support, especially in conducting source analysis,” Mr Nwosu stated.

He further elaborated on the complexities involved, mentioning potential additional spillage from a pipeline operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the necessity for analytical sampling to ascertain spill origins amidst multiple operational activities offshore.