Rev Nnimmo Bassey, an Environmental Rights Crusader on
Tuesday condemned the response by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to the Feb 3
oil leak at its oilfields in Brass, Bayelsa.
The
pipeline explosion on a line feeding the oil export facility discharged crude
into the environment and compelled the firm to shut down the line amidst
concerns by oil industry observers on oil output shortfalls.
The
facility, according to Eni, the Italian parent company of NAOC has capacity to
handle exports of 90,000 barrels of crude per day.
Bassey, a renowned Environmentalist and holder of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) said
that the statement issued by NAOC’s parent company Eni was insensitive to the
impact of the leak.
He said that it was regrettable that the operator of the
oilfield has neglected its obligations of operating in an environmentally
sustainable manner and merely stated that the incident had no significant
impact on its oil output.
“The response to this
incident underscores the lack of care about environmental impacts of continuous
oil spills in our communities.
“As in previous cases, the
concern of the oil company is about profit, about how to keep the oil flowing,
about how to continue exploiting without any sense of responsibility.
“This is both shameful and
unacceptable, where are the regulators of the oil and gas sector? They should
wake up from their slumber.
“At a time when the entire
Niger Delta should be remediated, we are seeing the regulators, NOSDRA or even
the DPR keeping mum and leaving the security agencies to be speaking on the
incident reported since early February.
“Did they arrest any
official of Eni? Is the security agencies deployed to protect facilities
equipped to undertake role they have taken upon themselves ?
“Explosions can happen due
to operational or equipment failure. The approach we see here is another layer
in the oppression of the poor communities and the worrisome discounting of
impacts on the environment and human lives,” Bassey said.
Meanwhile, National
Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) said security concerns was
delaying probe the cause of a leak
earlier reported at the Brass Oil Terminal off Bayelsa coastline.
Mr Idris
Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA had said on Monday that the agency was in
receipt of the report of the spill but was looking at the security concerns
which triggered violent protests in Bayelsa.
The Police
on Feb 14 imposed dusk to dawn curfew till Feb 23 in Bayelsa following violent
protests by some residents in protest of the Supreme Court judgment that sacked
the erstwhile Governor-Elect.
Musa said
that the spill agency was not aware of an explosion as the report before it was
that of a leak explained that the agency was concerned about safety before an
investigative visit to the site.
It will
be recalled that two regulatory officials, one each from NOSDRA and Bayelsa
Ministry of Environment died following a blast at an oilfield operated by NAOC
at Azuzuam in Bayelsa in July 2015.
He
assured that the mandatory Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) with representatives
of the community, oil firm and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment to ascertain the
cause and volume of the spill would be convened as soon as it is safe to do so.
“There was no explosion on the pipeline but spill. The cause
is being investigated. Indeed there were three different points.
“The security situation in the state in being considered for
a safe investigation,” the D-G said.
In
a response to an e-mail request for comments, Eni through a staff, who
preferred anonymity, said the company had shut the line to effect repairs.
The
oil firm said that the incident had no substantial impact on the 90,000 barrels
per day crude export terminal.
“The
line is an intra-field one in a minor field therefore impact on production is
minimal. The flow on the line has been immediately halted and preparations for
repair are underway.
“Brass
export line is active,” Eni stated
No comments:
Post a Comment