Shell confirms multiple oil spills in Bayelsa

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has confirmed multiple spills from its pipeline network in Ikarama oil fields in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa state.

Joseph Obari, SPDC Spokesman, told NAN on Wednesday that seven spill incidents were reported on August 12, and the oil firm deployed a helicopter for aerial surveillance and investigation of the incident.

Residents blamed the spills on termination of pipeline surveillance contract by SPDC, which compelled the surveillance guards to withdraw their services. But Obari said the cause of the spills had not yet been ascertained.

“Seven spills were reported on the 14inch Okordia-Rumuekpe pipeline in Ikarama on August 12,” he said.

“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) Joint Venture is finalising plans for the conduct of a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the sites.

“JIV is a statutory process of operation, involving SPDC, regulatory agencies, state ministry of environment, police and community representatives, to ascertaining the cause, volume and impact of a spill. JIV is yet to be conducted to determine the cause of the spills.”