ExxonMobil declares force majeure on Qua Iboe crude oil

ExxonMobil  Nigeria has declared force majeure on exports of Nigeria’s Qua Iboe crude oil, Ripples Nigeria has gathered.

 

The declaration on Friday came after the company observed a “system anomaly” during a routine check of its loading facility on July 14.

 

“We are working to ensure loading activities at the facility return to normal. We cannot speculate on any timeline for repairs,” a spokesman said. ”

 

Nigeria’s crude oil production had come under incessant attacks by militants operating in the Niger Delta, with the major culprit being the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). While production levels had been projected at 2.2million barrels per day (mpd), actual performance has hovered between 1.5m and 1.8m bpd, making Nigeria to lose its leading position to Angola.

 

Exxon, had earlier in the week, denied claims from the Niger Delta Avengers that the militant group had blown up the Qua Iboe 48″ crude oil export pipeline operated by the company.

 

Reuters quotes the company spokesman, Todd Spitler as saying on Friday that there was no connection between the force majeure and militant attacks. He said the company had initiated action towards fixing the damaged pipeline

 

However, in a statement posted on its website late on Friday, NDA warned the company not to carry out any repairs.

 

“If ExxonMobil fails to listen to us (Niger Delta Avengers), your personnel are going to be our next casualties not pipelines,” said the group.

Exxon has struggled to bring production of Qua Iboe back to normal after an accident in May on a drilling rig that damaged a pipeline, after which the company also declared force majeure.

 

Ripples Nigeria…without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now