Mobil Commits To Clean-Up Polluted A’Ibom Shoreline

Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), an affiliate of United States oil firm, ExxonMobil, has promised to clean up the shoreline in Akwa Ibom contaminated by crude from one of its offshore pipelines.

A statement signed by Mobil’s Director, External Relations, Mrs Gloria Essien-Dannar, said the company would continue to monitor the area for the clean-up of any residual deposit resulting from the oil leak.

A statement in Eket on Friday, said, “Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited  (MPN),  operator  of  the Nigerian National  Petroleum  Corporation (NNPC)/MPN Joint Venture, confirms that on June 20, 2010, deposits of weathered hydrocarbon were found along the shoreline of Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.

“MPN immediately deployed a team to inspect the site and sections of the shoreline contaminated with oil will be cleaned immediately.

 “MPN restates its commitment to maintaining high safety, health and environmental standards in our operations and is committed to the well-being of our neighbouring communities,” the statement said.

National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Thursday confirmed that it had received a report of the incident and commenced investigation.

 NOSDRA officials who visited the spill site reported sighting crude deposits along the Atlantic coastline in  Ibeno, Akwa Ibom.

It would be recalled that Mobil runs 960,000 barrels per day capacity crude oil export terminal off Akwa Ibom in a joint venture with NNPC.