Shell Blames Vandals for Bayelsa Oil Spill
Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC) has alleged sabotage as the cause for the Kolo Creek oil spill in Bayelsa State.
The leak discharged an unquantified volume of Shell’s crude into the environment on April 15, 2015.
In a statement on Tuesday by Shell spokesperson, Joseph Obari, the company said the report of the Joint Investigation Visit to the Kolo Creek Manifold spill had attributed the leak to sabotage.
Obari said the investigation team, which visited the site on April 16, found that unknown persons had cut 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.
He said the volume of spilled oil was estimated at 27 barrels, affecting mainly the manifold grounds and part of the surrounding vegetation.
The spokesman said, “The investigation was led by the regulators, National Oil Spill Detection Regulatory Agency and Department of Petroleum Resources as well as the representatives of Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, host communities and SPDC.
“SPDC stopped the leak soon after it occurred, deployed effective containment and began the recovery of oil. 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, Obari said another leak/fire was reported on Monday on the Kolo Creek–Rumuekpe trunk line, about five kilometres from the manifold.
He said the fire had been extinguished and site observation confirmed a recently excavated ditch at the fire point.
He added, “SPDC has expressed concern at the brazen damage of its facilities in parts of the Delta.
“We commend the Bayelsa State Government for its support and call on communities and other stakeholders to join hands in the efforts to discourage the trend”, he added.
