The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria LTD (SPDC), has recorded a spill of 213 barrels of crude oil in Ikarama Community of Okordia Clan, Yenogoa, Bayelsa State.
This was confirmed by the SPDC’s Media Relations Manager, Bamidele Odugbesan. He disclosed that an investigation about the oil spill incident has been concluded and a total of 213 barrels of crude oil was discharged from the Okordia-Rumuekpe Trunkline in Ikarama.
The New Diplomat had reported that SPDC recorded another oil spill incident during a routine operation of the Okordia-Rumuekpe trunkline.
It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 150 meters away from a previous incident of oil spill which occurred in 2019.
However, after the conclusion of the probe of Joint Investigative Visit’s (JIV) about the incident, it was discovered that a total of 213 barrels of crude oil was spilled.
JIV is a statutory probe into the cause of any recorded spill incident involving the oil firm, regulators, host communities and state ministries of environment.
According to the report of JIV, the spill was caused by an operational mishap traced to equipment failure.
The report also disclosed that an estimated 1.34 hectares of land was polluted by the leakage, adding that it has impacted fish ponds, rivers and palm trees located around the area.
According to the report, the SPDC was able to recover about 110 barrels of crude oil.
The JIV also stated that the Shell has vowed to recover the remaining 103 barrels of crude oil before the end of April.
The Ikarama community is known to be one of the most polluted sites in the Niger Delta communities. The community has recorded several cases of oil spills.
On November 12, 2019, an oil spill occurred at the Okordia-Rumuekpe pipeline. The investigation of the JIV revealed that the oil spill was caused by a corrosion, however, the SPDC rejected the investigation stating that the oil spill was caused by external interference.
Similarly, in 2011, SPDC announced that it recorded six separate oil spill incidents at the Okordia-Rumuekpe trunkline. The incidents occurred between August 2 and August 15.
However, the company, said all the six oil spill incidents were caused by unknown persons who vandalized the pipelines.
It would also be recalled that Shell has been associated with several several law suit regarding oil spillage in some Niger Delta communities.
Recently, a Dutch Appeal Court ruled that the SPDC should pay compensation to four Nigerian farmers for the two oil spills recorded in Goi Community of River States and Oruma Community of Bayelsa State.
The four farmers alongside Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie), had filed a suit against the parent company of SPDC, the Royal Dutch Shell and other subsidiaries over the two oil spills in Rivers and Bayelsa State.
The names of the farmers are Alali Efanga, Friday Alfrad Akpa , Chief Fidelis A. Oguru and Eric Dooh.
However, it took 13 years for the Dutch Appeal Court court deliver its judgement.
