Shell confirms oil spillages from Peremabiri flowstation in Bayelsa

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has confirmed the October 3, 2023 oil spill from its facilities at Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

A spokesperson for SPDC, Mr Michael Adande, said on Friday that a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to the incident site to unravel the cause and volume of oil discharged was underway.

JIV is a statutory probe comprising representatives of the operator, host community and regulatory agencies that generates a report to show the cause, extent of pollution after every spill is reported.

Adande said: “A government-led Joint Investigation Team, including operator and community representatives, is currently on a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to the site of the incident to determine the cause and the impact of the incident.”

Meanwhile the people of Peremabiri have appealed to all tiers of government to prevail on SPDC to immediately clean up the oil spill site

The leak from the Diebu Creek flowstation operated by SPDC in Peremabiri discharged a yet to be ascertained volume of crude oil to adjourning areas of the community and the Nun River.

The Programme Manager, Environmental Right Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Mr. Alagoa Morris, in a reaction, noted that the oil leak had polluted the ecosystem.

Morris, who is also the Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Environment, commended the peaceful disposition of the victims.

Also, an impacted farmer, Mrs. Yenimi Timipre, bemoaned having her fishing gear stained by crude and rendered useless.

Also, the Deputy Woman Leader of Peremabiri Community, Mrs Favour Morgan, lamented that the spill had destroyed their fishing nets, traps, crops and polluted the whole aquatic environment and therefore demanded succour.

Morgan said: “This oil spill has thrown the Peremabiri people into despair; we are into farming and fishing as our means of livelihood and the toxic oil from Shell’s oilfield has damaged our livelihood sources.

“We are helpless and in dire need of intervention by way of reliefs and succour to farmers and fishermen.”