Re-Opening Of OML 25: SPDC, Belemaoil Laud FG

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Belemaoil Producing Limited, have lauded the Federal Government for a peaceful resolution for operations to commence at OML 25.
Managing Director of SPDC, Nigeria, Mr Osagie Okunbor, stated this in Belema community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, during a joint visit to OML 25 host communities with a Federal Government delegation.
Okunbor said SPDC was happy to be back to the facility for operations to commence after two long years of discussions.
“A lot of credit to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari for bringing SPDC and Belemaoil together.
“It is absolutely important for peace to return because in the absence of peace, we will be where we are and nothing will be achieved,” he said.
According to Okunbor, no party is benefiting from the peace that is not found because even Belemaoil, a unit partner is not benefiting.
“So, it was in that spirit that we decided that it was important to sit together and find a way out of the impasse.
The SPDC MD said that they had impressed it on Belemaoil to treat everybody well no matter what must have transpired in the course of the challenge.
“The President of Belemaoil should ensure that all sections of the host communities are carried along, and he gave us that commitment.
“So, it is very important that we don’t keep generating more and more crisis because at the end, we are all one for one purpose,” he added.
President of Belemaoil, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, commended the federal government for achieving a far reaching reconciliation among the stakeholders of OML 25.
Jack-Rich pledged to carry everybody along no matter the position the parties took.
“Belemaoil will not treat anyone unduly because we need peace to develop the area and put an end to agitations,” he said.
The Tide’s source reports that women from Belema, Offoin-ama and Ngeje communities in Akuku-Toru LGA, hosting OML 25 shut down the facility over SPDC’s failure to develop the area.