Shell says still fixing damaged Nigeria oil pipeline
ABUJA, Aug 7 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research,Stock Buzz) said on Thursday repairs were ongoing on a major Nigerian crude oil pipeline sabotaged by militants last week, which halted some production from the world’s eighth largest oil exporter.
This contrasts with comments by Nigerian Oil Minister Odein Ajumogobia on Wednesday that all the pipelines damaged from the July 28 attacks were fixed and some production had restarted.
“We are continuing our efforts to carry out repairs,” said Caroline Wittgen, spokeswoman for Shell in Nigeria.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which has led a campaign of violence against the oil sector since early 2006, claimed responsibility for two pipeline attacks that halted 150,000 barrels per day of output.
Shell has only confirmed damage to the Nembe Creek trunkline located at Kula in Rivers state, trimming 40,000 bpd of its equity production in Nigeria.
State-oil firm Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. said the Trans-Niger pipeline at Rumuekpe was also bombed by MEND on the same day.
Both pipelines are operated by Shell and are connected to the Bonny export terminal.
Shell, which owns a minority stake in the Bonny fields, was forced to declare force majeure on its Bonny oil exports.
(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: africa.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Randy Fabi; Editing by Tume Ahemba)
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