allAfrica.com: Ogoni Resist SPDC Moves

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
January 16, 2007
Posted to the web January 17, 2007

By Chika Amanze-Nwachuku
Lagos

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has appealed to leaders of K-Dere community to allow its technical team to properly secure the wellheads to prevent any danger to lives and property.

The SPDC fire team had on January 13, extinguished the Bomu – 41 and 50 well head fires but was prevented from securing the two wells.

The company in a statement last night, said the community’s refusal to allow the fire fighters secure the two wells, has caused oil and gas leakages into the environment which could ignite another fire which will be difficult to control and which could destroy the environment and harm people living in the area.

The latest fires at Bomu bring to six the number of such incidents in Ogoni land in less than 12 months. Fires had previously been reported at Yorla-13, Bomu-15, Bomu-12 and Bomu-6.

“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited would like to express immense gratitude to the Rivers State Government, Gokana Local Government Council and chiefs and elders of the area for their assistance in extinguishing of the wellhead fires at Bomu – 41 and 50, ensuring the success of the fire fighting effort. The SPDC fire team extinguished the fires at the two wells on January 13, but was prevented from securing the two wells. This means oil and gas are still leaking into the environment. SPDC is very concerned that this could ignite another fire which will be difficult to control and which could destroy the environment and harm people living in the area.

“An effective step to controlling a burning wellhead includes stopping the source of leakage of gas and oil that feeds the fire. With the wellhead fires at Bomu-41 and 50 extinguished, the environment will soon be saturated with flammable liquids including oil and gas. This exposes the environment and the people of the area to the danger of an uncontrollable fire.

“SPDC wishes to appeal to leaders of K-Dere community to allow its technical team properly secure the wellheads to prevent any danger to lives and property. The latest fires at Bomu bring to six the number of such incidents in Ogoni land in less than 12 months. Fires had previously been reported at Yorla-13, Bomu-15, Bomu-12 and Bomu-6.

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