SPDC raises alarm over rising crude oil theft spills in Adibawa field

The Adibawa field straddles Biseni, Edagberi and Ikarama communities, and majority of the spills were caused when unknown persons inflicted extensive hacksaw cuts on pipelines. A joint team comprising regulators, government ministries, SPDC and communities investigated each of the spills and confirmed their findings in signed-off reports.

The latest spills occurred on the Adibawa - Okordia pipeline at Ikarama on 24th May and 4nd June respectively. The largest individual spilled volume of 447 barrels came from the June incident. Investigation is continuing into another spill which occurred on the Adibawa North East flowline at Biseni on 22nd May. In line with its spill response strategy and at the earliest opportunity, SPDC shut down the pipelines, mobilised teams to the site of the incidents for containment and recovery of spilled oil. Cleanup of impacted areas is planned for later in the year.

“We are very concerned over the rising trend of spills in Adibawa field,” said SPDC Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu. “Just between 9th and 26th April, we recorded four sabotage spills in the same area, polluting rivers and blighting swathes of land. All stakeholders must work together to try to stop this crime against Nigeria.

“SPDC continues to bring new level of transparency in spills reporting. In 2011, we set up a website www.shellnigeria.com/spills that captures all spills, sabotage and operational, and information on all the incidents in Adibawa and elsewhere are fully listed there. This is the only such website in Nigeria.”