Oil
Ogoni Oil spill: SHELL urges Govt to end Pipeline sabotage, Illegal refining
By Yemie ADEOYE
LAGOS– SHELL Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has warned that a critical portion of the UNEP report which emphasizes on complete stoppage of pipeline vandalism and illegal refining must not be overlooked if a meaningful implementation of the report is to be expected by Nigerians and the world.
Specifically Shell wants the federal Government to take the lead in putting a lasting end to the activities of illegal refiners and pipeline vandals in the Niger-delta as that is the only panacea to a lasting clean up exercise in Ogoni land and around the region.
This position was made known by the General Manager, External relations of Shell Mr. Igo Welli during an interactive session with a select group of the Nigerian media in Lagos at the weekend.
Mr. Welli who went proverbial at an instance opined that no one can mop or clean the kitchen floor successfully while the tap is still running. He went on to narrow this down to the ogoni land clean up by stating that the major cause of the spills, pollution and degradation is the activities of pipeline vandals, Illegal oil refiners and oil thieves.
“These ones do more damage to the environment on a daily basis, and much may not be achieved if we turn a blind eye to these nefarious acts and concentrate on the clean-up, as the very expensive exercise would be short-lived due to the continued illegal activities.
The Shell Image maker, further told newsmen that from the 22 actions directed at it by the UNEP report since it was published Shell and its partners have swung into action to meet these directions and between the time and now 16 of those directives have been met, even as the company continues to work to meet the remaining six.
“In the Period under review SPDC has carried out remediation processes with 470 incidents documented along SPDC JV right of way in Ogoniland, 368 remediated, 32 incidents are at various stages and 70 incidents are currently outstanding out of which 40 are in Bodo.
We have also completed the physical verification of assets in Ogoniland covering delivery and flowlines, manifolds, flow stations, compressor stations, gas plants and burrow pits.
Water projects
SPDC JV funded a regional water supply project at Eleme which provides access to potable water for about 30,000 indigenes across five clans from 103 outlets. This is being expanded by the Rivers State Government to include more outlets.
Health outreach
On the health aspect we conducted primary healthcare outreach to the communities through SPDC’s Health-In-Motion programme; about 35,000 adults and 15,000 children benefitted from the outreach.
Alternative livelihood
We executed alternative livelihood programme (LiveWIRE) for 105 Ogoni youths; provided start-up grants to the trainees most of whom have started businesses.
Monitoring of the LiveWIRE beneficiaries is ongoing.
Grassroots campaign
We championed grassroots environmental campaign in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, NOSDRA, and NGOs to deepen awareness on the ills of illegal bunkering and oil theft.12 town-hall sessions were held across the four local government areas yearly. About 11,000 participants recorded from 2014 to date.
“SPDC welcomes the leadership shown by President Buhari in setting up governance structures for implementation of the UNEP report. We are greatly encouraged by the positive and constructive response from representatives of the community, Niger Delta NGOs and civil society. This is an important step forward and SPDC is determined to play its part in maintaining the momentum.
“However, as the UNEP report stated, treating the problem of environmental contamination within Ogoniland merely as a technical clean-up exercise will ultimately lead to failure. Ensuring long-term sustainability is a much bigger challenge – one that will require coordinated and collaborative action from all stakeholders.
“This must include putting an end to the widespread pipeline sabotage, crude oil theft and illegal refining that are the main causes of environmental damage in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta today. Shell Companies in Nigeria will continue to be at the forefront engaging interested stakeholders and seeking sustainable innovative ways to resolve the problem.” He enthused.
In a strategic move to revitalize Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Federal Government has unveiled two key fiscal incentives aimed at attracting investment and enhancing energy security.
The announcement was made by Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Wednesday.
The first initiative, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order 2024, introduces critical exemptions for essential energy products and infrastructure, including Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, and Clean Cooking Equipment.
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These exemptions are designed to reduce living costs for Nigerians, promote energy security, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy alternatives.
The second initiative, the Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil & Gas Production, offers new tax relief options for deep offshore exploration projects.
This measure aims to position Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for international oil and gas investments, boosting the country’s appeal to foreign investors.
These reforms are part of a broader set of policy initiatives, known as Policy Directives 40-42, endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The directives reflect the administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in the energy sector and enhancing Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global oil and gas market.
By Yemie Adeoye
NIGERIA’s President Bola Tinubu has announced that the protracted ExxonMobil-Seplat upstream oil divestment will be formally approved by the Minister of petroleum within a matter of days, just as he announced his government’s intention to expand the Compress natural Gas, CNG buses initiative.
The President who stated this during his Independence day nationwide broadcast stated that the move is in line with his administration’s commitment to free enterprise, free entry and free exit in investments which is the hallmark of his administration investment policy.
“Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.”
The President also seized the opportunity to plead with Nigerians to be patient with his administration’s reform policies. “As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel”.
“Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.
Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace”. he enthused.
As part of the administration’s push to improve Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed support for ExxonMobil’s plan to invest $10 billion in the country’s deep-water oil sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, during a meeting with ExxonMobil executives at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Shettima called the investment “a clear testament to the administration’s economic reforms and investor-friendly policies.”
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This announcement follows news that international maritime company DP World intends to develop a multibillion-dollar port project in Nigeria.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, shared the development in a statement on Wednesday. He quoted Shettima as saying: “ExxonMobil’s potential investment aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for a more investment-friendly Nigeria.
We are committed to fostering an environment that supports such transformative projects.”Shettima also discussed the administration’s broader efforts to improve the ease of doing business, highlighting the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to simplify bureaucratic processes, enhance transparency, and offer fiscal incentives to attract global investors.
“Our administration has taken bold steps to unify the exchange rate, remove fuel subsidies, and implement tax reforms. These measures, though challenging in the short term, are intended to create a stable and predictable business environment in the long term,” he added.
On the oil and gas sector, Shettima mentioned that the government is revising the fiscal framework for deep-water operations to attract investment while ensuring fair returns for the Nigerian people.
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