Oil spill: Aiteo shuts down OML 29 field in Bayelsa

Nigeria’s crude oil production has dipped as Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company, operator of the NNPC/Aiteo Joint Venture on OML 29 shuts down oil production in the Nembe oilfields in Bayelsa State.

A statement by Aiteo Media Officer, Ndiana-Abasi Matthew, on Wednesday, confirmed an oil leak at its loading facility Nembe Creek on Monday evening.

The statement read: “The leak was reported on Monday, June 17, 2024, during routine operations. AEEPCO’s Oil Spill and Emergency Response Team was immediately activated and all production from OML 29 shut down.”

The company described the actions as “a precautionary measure while mobilizing additional resources to contain the spill. The cause of the spill is currently undetermined. However, we are proactively engaging with stakeholders to mitigate the immediate effects.”

Aiteo Group Managing Director, Victor Okoronkwo, said the leak was detected during its operations on Monday.

He explained that the relevant institutions have been notified and a Joint Investigative Visit with other stakeholders has been initiated to determine the cause of this incident: The Punch gathered that the JIV was scheduled for Wednesday.

The JIV involves the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, members of the community, and other stakeholders.

The company said it regretted the “production losses to the Joint Venture and the nation and the potential environmental impact” stressing that “our current priority is to expedite an efficient spill management process in line with regulatory standards and collaborate with all stakeholders to restore production and mitigate associated risks”.

But, the Chairman, Oil and Gas Committee, Nembe Kingdom, St. George Kumo, said the spill was caused by an accidental collision between two vessels one of which was loading crude oil at the time of the collision.

Kumo said the spill had spread to Okpoama in neighbouring Brass Local Government Area and has paralysed fishing and other economic activities in the area.