26 September 2011
LAGOS Anglo-Dutch oil group Shell said Monday it has shut in 25,000 barrels per day of crude in a southern Nigerian oil field due to spills caused by sabotage and theft.
“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) has shut in production from Imo River Field due to a recent upsurge of illegal bunkering and refining activities which have impacted the environment,” the company said in a statement.
“Some 25,000 barrels of oil per day is affected,” Shell said, adding it took the action on August 28 “to starve the illegal bunkerers of crude oil in order to prevent further environmental pollution.”