SPDC declares force majeure on Bonny Light Loadings.
May 04, 2012
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) declared force majeure on outstanding cargoes of Bonny Light with effect from noon (Nigerian time) today, 4th May 2012.
The action is due to production deferment caused by incessant crude theft and illegal bunkering on Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL).
Shutdown of the line for repairs will result in a deferment of some 60,000bbls per day of production. SPDC is working hard to repair the line and resume production as quickly as possible.
Note for editors:
The NCTL is the major conveyor of SPDC’s and third party production in Eastern operations to Bonny Terminal, and had to be replaced when the old one became weakened due to the installation of many crude theft points. The new NCTL which came into service in 2010 has also been repeatedly targeted by crude thieves, requiring that SPDC must now shut down sections of the line to allow the removal of illegal bunkering points.