Authorities in Nigeria, along with Shell’s local subsidiary, are conducting an investigation into the cause of an oil spill that occurred on the Trans Niger pipeline and lasted for several days.
The spill, which was discovered on June 11 in Eleme, Rivers State, located in southern Nigeria, has prompted scrutiny from environmental rights groups. Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited confirmed the spill four days later in a statement. It took approximately a week to contain the spill, according to the environmental monitoring organization, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre.
Representatives from Shell, the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, and local communities visited the spill site on Monday to collect information, analyze data, examine physical evidence, and determine the causes of the leak
A spokesperson from Shell confirmed the site visit on Monday. The investigation aims to determine the volume of oil that was spilled. Shell has faced numerous legal battles in relation to oil spills in the Niger Delta, an area heavily affected by pollution, conflicts, and corruption associated with the oil and gas industry.
The company often attributes these spills to pipeline vandalism and illegal tapping of crude oil.
SOURCE: REUTERS
IMAGE: Cable
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