By Dipo Olowookere
Barely two days after it announced the reopening of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), operators of the oil facility, Aiteo, has announced another force majeure.
NCTL is one of the two major pipelines exporting Bonny light crude oil in the Nembe region of oil-rich Niger Delta.
It was disclosed that the latest closure of the oil facilities was caused by leaks and protests in the region.
The oil pipeline was only reopened few days ago after it was shut down for days due to a fire outbreak.
According to Reuters, Aiteo did not state specifically when operations might resume.
Speaking on the protests, which disrupted its activities, Aiteo said on Monday that the demonstrators left after an engagement with the company.
“These disturbances disrupt our operations and lead to production deferment, which affects not just the company but revenues accruing to the government and people of Nigeria,” Aiteo said.
Aiteo said it was committed to working with the community and noted that it provides services to the area and has contracts with local workers. But it appealed to them to negotiate rather than block operations.
