Shell shuts Nigerian Nembe pipeline over oil leak

Oil and gas major Royal Dutch Shell has announced the closure of a key pipeline in southern Nigeria in a bid to stop a leak caused by oil theft and sabotage.

Shell spokesman Precious Okolobo said that the Nembe Creek Trunkline has been closed in order to remove crude theft points. The company expects to reopen it as soon as possible.

The 6,000km pipeline carries around 150,000 barrels daily for an oil producer in Africa.

Shell did not disclose the quantity of oil that has been lost through the leaks or the way the shutdown is expected to affect the daily output of 2.2 million barrels a day in Nigeria.

According to estimations from Nigeria’s local media, around 95,000 barrels of crude a day might have been shut due to the pipeline closure.

The company stated that there has been repeated sabotage and thieves tapping the pipeline. Engineers have been deployed to carry out repair operations.

Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria accounts for more than two million barrels a day. Due to crude oil theft or bunkering, the country loses some $6bn in revenue annually. Activists argue that Shell does not take enough measures to prevent such incidents, instead opting to clean up the damages when they occur.