Another leak/fire was reported on April 20 on the Kolo Creek–Rumuekpe trunk line in Bayelsa State, where an excavated ditch was discovered at the fire point, about 5kms from the manifold operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.
Meanwhile, the Joint Investigation Visit, JIV, at the Kolo Creek Manifold spill in Bayelsa State, which occurred on April 15, 2015, has attributed the leak to sabotage.
But a concerned stakeholder from the host community who pleaded anonymity, insisted that if the cause of the spill was sabotage as contained in the JIV report then it was a fallout of negligence by surveillance staff of SPDC.
The facility owned by SPDC, is located along the strategic Edepie-Otuasega-Imiringi Road linking Ogbia Local Government Area to mainland Yenagoa.
According to Shell spokesperson, Joseph Obari, the report of the investigation team, which visited the site on April 16, disclosed that unknown persons had cut out a section of the metal protection to the manifold, removed components of the pressure control system and opened the isolation valves, resulting in a spill.
According to the report, “The volume of spilled oil was estimated at 27 barrels, affecting mainly the manifold grounds and part of the surrounding vegetation.
“The investigation was led by the regulators (NOSDRA and DPR) with representatives of Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, host communities and SPDC.”
Obari added that SPDC stopped the leak soon after it occurred, deployed effective containment and began the recovery of oil.
According to him, “No chemical dispersant has been applied. The containment and oil recovery activities involved the use of booms, absorbent pads and vacuum truck for evacuation of recovered oil.
“Oil spill response activities are continuing while remediation will commence after initial clean-up has been done.”
“Meanwhile, another leak/fire was reported Monday (April 20) on the Kolo Creek–Rumuekpe trunk line, about 5kms from the manifold.
“The fire has been extinguished. Site observation confirmed a recently excavated ditch at the fire point.”
The company which expressed concern at the brazen damage of its facilities in parts of the Delta, commended the Bayelsa State Government for its support and called on communities and other stakeholders to join hands in the efforts to discourage the trend.
But a concerned stakeholder from the host community who pleaded anonymity, insisted that if the cause of the spill was sabotage as contained in the JIV report then it was a fallout of negligence by surveillance staff of SPDC.
The facility owned by SPDC, is located along the strategic Edepie-Otuasega-Imiringi Road linking Ogbia Local Government Area to mainland Yenagoa.
According to Shell spokesperson, Joseph Obari, the report of the investigation team, which visited the site on April 16, disclosed that unknown persons had cut out a section of the metal protection to the manifold, removed components of the pressure control system and opened the isolation valves, resulting in a spill.
According to the report, “The volume of spilled oil was estimated at 27 barrels, affecting mainly the manifold grounds and part of the surrounding vegetation.
“The investigation was led by the regulators (NOSDRA and DPR) with representatives of Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, host communities and SPDC.”
Obari added that SPDC stopped the leak soon after it occurred, deployed effective containment and began the recovery of oil.
According to him, “No chemical dispersant has been applied. The containment and oil recovery activities involved the use of booms, absorbent pads and vacuum truck for evacuation of recovered oil.
“Oil spill response activities are continuing while remediation will commence after initial clean-up has been done.”
“Meanwhile, another leak/fire was reported Monday (April 20) on the Kolo Creek–Rumuekpe trunk line, about 5kms from the manifold.
“The fire has been extinguished. Site observation confirmed a recently excavated ditch at the fire point.”
The company which expressed concern at the brazen damage of its facilities in parts of the Delta, commended the Bayelsa State Government for its support and called on communities and other stakeholders to join hands in the efforts to discourage the trend.
