The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) on Monday resumed oil exports from the Forcados Oil Export Terminal.
The company halted exports on April 4 over ‘unforeseen circumstances’ in its operations.
Mr Michael Adande, an SPDC Spokesman, explained that the oil firm has lifted the ‘Force Majeure’ on Forcados exports Programme effective Monday, April 13, 2020.
Force Majure is a legal clause that absolves a company from legal liabilities due to circumstances beyong its control.
Adande said that lifting of the Force Majeure notice is a sequel to the re-opening of the Trans Forcados Pipeline by the operator, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL).
Heritage had shut down the facility on April 4, 2020.
“Subsequently, SPDC, operator of the SPDC Joint Venture, had declared a Force Majeure on the Forcados Oil Terminal Offtake Programme effective 1700hrs of Monday, April 6, 2020,” Adande said.
Meanwhile, investigations indicate that the suspension of oil exports may be linked to the oil spill at the Angiama community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa in March.
The oil leakage has been traced to equipment failure.
The spill reportedly emanated from Well No. 13 at the oilfield operated by SPDC at Angiama, a coastal settlement by the Nun River.
A competent source, who participated in the Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to probe the cause of the leak, which discharged a yet to be ascertained volume of crude into the environment has been investigated and a report was signed by the parties.
JIV is a statutory team convened after any leak by operator, regulators, community and government representatives to ascertain the cause and quantity of oil leakage from oil spills.
NAN
