The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has suspended crude oil flows into the 16-inch Nun River-Kolo Creek crude trunkline following a devastating oil spill in Bayelsa State. The oil spill occurred on February 16 and was reported the following day at Obololi, a coastline community along the River Nun in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. The Director-General of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Chukuwemka Woke, confirmed the incident.
SPDC spokesman Mr. Michael Adande confirmed the shutdown and said response efforts were underway. However, the company did not disclose the volume of oil production affected by the shutdown.
The 16-inch pipeline transports crude from multiple oil fields in Bayelsa to the company’s manifold in Kolo. The shutdown is expected to have a significant impact on oil production in the region.
NOSDRA said that the cause of the leak and the volume of oil discharged remain undetermined, as the affected pipeline runs beneath the river. The agency has recommended diverting the river into a temporary dam to grant investigators access to the spill site.
The spill has contaminated the Nun River, which the local community depends on for their livelihood. The Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Chief Target Segibo, pledged an alternative water supply for the affected community.
Environmentalists and local leaders have raised concerns over the impact of the spill on marine life and residents who rely on the river for their livelihood. The extent of environmental damage and the timeline for cleanup efforts are still uncertain as investigations continue.
