Business
NOSDRA’s Oil-Spills Findings Vindicate Community
The Ibeno Community in Akwa Ibom State has said that investigations conducted by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on the frequent oil spills at the Qua Iboe oil fields have vindicated it.Ibeno Local Government is the host of the Mobil Producing Nigeria crude oil export terminal.The Chairman, Iwuopom Village Council, Ibeno, Chief John Udoeka, said this on Wednesday in Eket in an interview with newsmen.He was reacting to the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting between officials of NOSDRA and MPN, which was summoned by the Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, to deliberate on the frequent oil spills at the Qua Iboe oil fields.He said, “We have been suffering the negative impact of oil exploration for years.”In the recent past, the spills have been rather too frequent and we are happy that the minister of Environment has heard our cry through the hard work of NOSDRA.”We are happy that NOSDRA has come out to criticise the way Mobil handled the spill that occurred here on May 1, 2010. We commend them for saying the truth and standing by it.”Udoeka added, “Ibeno community commends the efforts of NOSDRA in the management of oil spills in the Niger Delta region.”The Tide source learnt that during the meeting, NOSDRA criticised Mobil for flouting its directives by using chemical dispersants near the shoreline without obtaining approval from it.Mobil, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, External Affairs, Mrs Gloria Essien-Danner, had confirmed that a pipeline leak occurred from one of its offshore platforms on May 1.The damaged pipeline allegedly led to a partial shut in of oil production at the Qua Iboe oil fields to enable the company effect repairs on the damaged pipeline.The statement said the damage also compelled the oil firm to declare a force majeure on May 12, 2010, to free it from legal liabilities due to its inability to meet oil loading schedules.It would be recalled that the coastal communities near Mobil’s oil export terminal in Akwa Ibom experienced oil spills on December 4, 2009, March 24, 2010 and May 1, 2010.