The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has declared force majeure on exports of Bonny Light, Nigeria’s reference crude oil grade.
In a statement on Wednesday signed by its spokesperson, Bamidele Odugbesan, Shell said the force majeure took effect by 12pm on Tuesday, May 10, 2016.
According to Odugbesan, the decision came as a result of a leak that led to the closure of Nembe Creek Trunk line for repairs by the operator, Aiteo Eastern E & P Company Ltd.
Shell had in February declared force majeure on liftings from the Forcados export terminal, following the disruption in production caused by the spill on its subsea crude export pipeline.
A group named Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility for the attack on the Shell oil pipeline which shut down 250,000 barrels-per-day export terminal.
Last week the Niger Delta Avenger blew up a critical NNPC crude and gas pipelines feeding crude to the Warri and Kaduna refinery. The gas line feeds power generating plants that provides electricity to Lagos and Abuja.
The militants explained the reason for the bombing in a chilling press release confirming that Tompolo’s refusal to apologise to them was why they bombed the facilties. They also referred to President Buhari as Pharaoh Ramseys who has refused to allow Niger Deltan’s to leave Nigeria in apparent metaphor to the Biblical Egypt and Israel.