The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SNEPCo

  • SNEPCo hosts summit

    Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Ni-geria Limited (SNEPCo) hosted a business summit in Aberdeen last week with over 270 personnel representing Nigerian companies within and outside the country in attendance.

    They explored opportunities to repatriate skills and experience to the oil and gas industry back home in Nigeria.

    The forum titled: ‘The global Nigerian’ is the third in Europe’s oil and gas hub, and had the theme Networking and Collaboration as a tool for national Development and Growth.

    SNEPCo Managing Director Tony Attah in his address, said: “When, in 2013, we set out with the initiative for local companies to collaborate with Nigerian experts in Aberdeen on opportunities and challenges in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, we knew this would be a game changer. Today, we can say that the game changer is beginning to take shape as Nigerians have started returning home to set up businesses.”

    A representative of the Nigerian High Commission, Mr. Hassan Hassan said: “This is the right time for our experts based abroad to return home to make contribution and be part of the success story.”  The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe commended Shell on both The Global Nigerian and Partnership Facilitation Programme and confirmed the board’s continuing support for both initiatives.

    In a presentation on procedures for potential contractors in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, the Deputy Manager, Reservoir Management and Evaluation, Joint Venture oil operations, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS), Mrs. Martina Atuchi, said: “We are inviting you to be part of the leading economy in Africa with a lot of untapped hydrocarbon resources.”

    The General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Nigeria, Chiedu Oba gave a progress report on the decisions of The Global Nigerian since the first business summit in Aberdeen in 2013. He said several Nigerians had returned home to establish businesses in the oil and gas sector, while networking had continued on a collaboration portal which recorded more than 12,000 visitors every month by the 60 registered companies and users.

    The participants agreed that the return of a significant number of Nigerian oil and gas professionals could make a ‘game changing’ impact on the efficient delivery of many opportunities that exist in the upstream, mid-stream and downstream sectors. They also suggested the need for low interest rates to boost the growth of the companies.

    The Global Nigerian 2015 was enthusiastically supported by government and industry leaders including representatives from Nigeria’s leading oil and gas trade organisation, PETAN and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

  • 270 Nigerian experts seek opportunities at SNEPCo’s summit

    Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) hosted a business summit in Aberdeen last week with over 270 personnel representing Nigerian companies within and outside the country in attendance. They explored opportunities to repatriate skills and experience to the oil and gas industry back home in Nigeria.

    The forum christened ‘The Global Nigerian’ is the third in Europe’s oil and gas hub, and had the theme Networking and Collaboration as a tool for national Development and Growth.

    SNEPCo Managing Director Tony Attah in his address, said: “When, in 2013, we set out with the initiative for local companies to collaborate with Nigerian experts in Aberdeen on opportunities and challenges in the Nigeria oil and gas industry, we knew this would be a game changer. Today, we can say that the game changer is beginning to take shape as Nigerians have started returning home to set up businesses.”

    A representative of the Nigerian High Commission, Mr. Hassan Hassan said: “This is the right time for our experts based abroad to return home to make contribution and be part of the success story.”  The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe commended Shell on both The Global Nigerian and Partnership Facilitation Programme and confirmed the board’s continuing support for both initiatives.

    In a presentation on procedures for potential contractors in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, the Deputy Manager, Reservoir Management and Evaluation, Joint Venture oil operations, at the Nigerian National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS), Mrs. Martina Atuchi said: “We are inviting you to be part of the leading economy in Africa with a lot of untapped hydrocarbon resources.”

    The General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell Nigeria, Chiedu Oba gave a progress report on the decisions of The Global Nigerian since the first business summit in Aberdeen in 2013. He said several Nigerians had returned home to establish businesses in the oil and gas sector, while networking had continued on a collaboration portal which recorded more than 12,000 visitors every month by the 60 registered companies and users.

    The participants agreed that the return of a significant number of Nigerian oil and gas professionals could make a ‘game changing’ impact on the efficient delivery of many opportunities that exist in the upstream, mid-stream and downstream sectors. They also suggested the need for low interest rates to boost the growth of the companies.

    The Global Nigerian 2015 was enthusiastically supported by government and industry leaders including representatives from Nigeria’s leading oil and gas trade organisation, PETAN and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

  • Bonga spill: ‘Shell to pay $3b to affected communities’

    Bonga spill: ‘Shell to pay $3b to affected communities’

    The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has directed Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) to pay $3.6 billion to affected communities of Bonga oil spill.

    NOSDRA’s  Director-General, Sir Peter Idabor, in a letter to the oil firm, said that the agency imposed a sanction on the company in 2014 for the damage done to the natural resources and means of livelihood by the spill since 2011.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by the Head/ Deputy Director, Public Affairs Unit in Abuja,  Idabor, said the company did not make any attempt to provide relief materials for the shoreline fishing communities with respect to the acute and chronic impact of the crude oil on the environment.

    “Despite the fact that the incident was caused by equipment failure and the admission by the then Managing Director that 40,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Atlantic Ocean, no attempt was made by the oil company to provide relief materials for the shoreline fishing communities with respect to the acute and chronic impact of the crude oil on the environment.

    “NOSDRA DG, Sir Peter Idabor, has directed SNEPCO to pay the sum of $3,600,191,206.00 or its Naira equivalent as compensation and administrative costs for failure to effect clean up on the impacted site within the stipulated period, as provided in the agency’s Act and Regulations.

    “NOSDRA in 2014 issued a notification of sanction to the oil company with regard to the Bonga spill incident but it has yet neither paid compensation to the affected shoreline communities nor provided relief materials to them, as directed by the Agency and the House Committee on Environment.

    “Meanwhile, by virtue of the latest reminder on the notification of sanction on the spill incident, NOSDRA has directed SNEPCO to pay the said fine and compensation, or face the legal machinery available to the Agency to ensure its compliance,” it said.

  • ‘Bonga spill affected 350 communities’

    The 2011 Bonga oil spill incident from an offshore oil field by Shell Nigeria Production and Exploration Company (SNEPCo) affected 168,000 victims in 350 communities in Delta and Bayelsa states.

    The paramount ruler, Olobia Community at Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Chief Howells Levi, stated this in Yenagoa.

    He said the fishermen were ordered by oil industry regulators to withdraw from fishing to avoid catching contaminated fish.

    Levi lamented that the fishermen, who were deprived of their income during the  clean up were not compensated.

    Operational error at SNEPCo had caused a discharge of 40,000 barrels of oil into the Atlantic Ocean.

    The House of Representatives and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in December last year recommended a compensation of $3.96billion for victims of the incident.

    Levi said the verification of claims revealed that six local government areas along the Atlantic coastline in the two states were affected by the incident.

    He said: “The Bonga spill incident elicited a lot of claims many of which were very frivolous; initially more than 2,000 communities inundated Shell asking for compensation.

    “But when we appointed attorneys and conducted a verification it was streamlined and we found out that 168,000 persons in 350 communities suffered the negative impact of the spill.

    “The impacted local government areas are Ekeremo, Southern Ijaw and Brass in Brass while Warri North, Warri South and Burutu in Delta and each of the council areas produced 28,000 victims.”

    The monarch explained that the coastal settlements affected by the Bonga spill in Delta and Bayelsa resolved to set up a Spill Impact Verification Committee to fashion out a framework for compensation by SNEPCo.

    According to him, the victims were scrutinised to ensure that only fishermen who reside along the Atlantic coastline were verified and each person was made to made to depose to an affidavit.

    “The purpose was to verify the claims before they are submitted to SNEPCo for payment because we do not want people with frivolous and unsubstantiated claims to endanger the case of genuine victims,” Levi said.

  • Shell, SNEPCO partner on health

    Shell, SNEPCO partner on health

    TO tackle oral diseases which represent a major public health problem in the country, the management of St Kizito Clinic in Lagos has partnered Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) to set up a dental unit.

    The clinic’s Medical Director, Alda Gemmani, who spoke at the inauguration of the dental unit, lamented that dental health issues were yet to receive priority attention due to competitive health demands resulting in high prevalence of the consequences of poor oral health.

    Gemmani said periodontal disease and dental caries are two major oral health problems, while others include malocclusion, traumatised anterior teeth, dental fluorosis, and oral tumours.

    He revealed that the clinic’s daily consultations revealed poor oral health and dental hygiene among both adults and the children who are most vulnerable, adding that the issue not only causes pain but loss of man hours, leading to a reduced income for the family, with its attendant stress.

    “The Clinic started preventive dental services and educational programmes among patients and pupils of Ilasan-Jakande, Lekki; Idi-Araba, Mushin and Oreta, Ikorodu environs. So, the need of a dental unit to address patients’ needs grew due to lack of an accessible and affordable dental clinic in these areas.”

  • Communities accuse Shell of ‘divide and rule’ over Bonga spill

    Communities in Bayelsa and Delta States affected by the December 2011 Bonga oil spill have accused Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) of divide and rule over compensation to the affected communities.

    The communities in a statement signed yesterday by King Obiriki Ojukosin and Chief Austine Ofoeyeno,  said Shell’s invitation of some members of the communities other than their representatives to a meeting was intended to cause confusion and disaffection among the communities.

    According to the communities, the purported meeting was also meant to scuttle the compensation claims for the affected communities.

    Besides, the communities noted that the said meeting would have undermined the interventions of the National Assembly as well as the Federal Government’s agency involved.

    The statement reads: “That the said Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) chairmen were not adequately briefed about Shell’s intention and they were misled to attend the meeting; therefore the said GMoU chairmen, communities, satellite villages and fisherpersons in Bayelsa and Delta States affected by the said Bonga oil spill hereby disclaim and distance ourselves from whatsoever meaning that Shell may attribute and/or ascribe to the presence of the GMoU chairmen in the said meeting.

    “That all shoreline communities, satellite villages, and fisher persons in Bayelsa and Delta States have a valid attorney already handling all matters associated with the Shell Bonga oil spill of 20th December 2011 for our interest.

    “That in line with Shell’s usual disrespect to constituted authorities and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Shell ignored House of Representatives Committee on Environment letter ref. NASS/7HR/Ct.31/23/130 of 3rd October 2014 to inaugurate Multi-Stakeholders Committee to amicably resolve all contending issues and thereafter compromised National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and also usurp their authority by organising the said meeting with a view to scuttle the efforts of the National Assembly and other Federal Government agencies as well as our said Attorney for the purpose of destroying and subjugating our legitimate claims.

    “That we hereby direct Shell to forthwith deal with and/or channel all transactions with us in respect of the said Bonga oil spill through our Attorney.”

  • Bonga Spill: ‘Why we asked SNEPCO to pay $11.5b’

    Bonga Spill: ‘Why we asked SNEPCO to pay $11.5b’

    The Nigeria Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have explained the reason they are asking Shell Nigerian Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO ) to pay $11.5 billion for the December 2011 Bonga oil spill which affected over many communities in the Niger Delta.

    While speaking at a resumed investigative hearing before the Uche Ekwunife-headed House Committee on Environment, at the National Assembly, both organizations said the 40, 0000 oil spill which impacted a radius of 950 square kilometres has portrayed SNEPCO as an irresponsible as it had dithered for over two years on the issue of compensation.

    While NOSDRA recommended that SNEPCO pay an administrative fine of $5 billion, the NIMASA recommended another fine of $6.5 billion making a total of $11.5 billion.

    The Director General of NOSDRA, Mr. Peter Idabor said that the parameters used to arrive at the sum of $5 billion fine it recommended factored in the damage done to the environment. “The amount is to take charge of the marine environment and up till now, there is proof it has been paid.”

    He said the affected communities could not go back to fishing, and that the few that could continue fishing have to travel far out into the waters to eke a living.

    He posited that Nigeria’s pollution is the worst in the world and that the level of impunity displayed by Oil companies in the country is unprecedented. He suggested that the issue of PIA be moved from DPR to Ministry of environment “to forestall the kind of delay we have seen.”

    The Director-General of NIMASA, in his own submission aligned with NOSDRA on what caused the spill and efforts made to clean it so far and said its proposed fine was solely meant for the compensation of the communities that had been affected.

    He described SNEPCO’s antics as “frustrating”

    He said: “SNEPCO made it impossible to get to the place to take samples to prove our case. We eventually learnt that it was the spill that affected the coastline. SNEPCO that was involved did not do much in terms of relief materials. We have proof that it was the Bonga spill that affected the coastline and communities.

    “The kind of impunity that SNEPCO has demonstrated in the Niger Delta must be stopped if the future of the Niger Delta is to be assured. it was responsible for the spill.

    “Its only in Nigeria that we can witness this kind of impunity. We in NIMASA see this as a serious infraction to the law and the community and what happened can be called genocide. This is the only environment in the world that this kind of thing can be done and people think they can get away with it.”

  • Shell assists old people

    Shell assists old people

    Shell Nigeria Exploration and Productivity Company (SNEPCO), a subsidiary of Shell Petroleum has renovated a part of the Old People’s Home, Yaba, Lagos.

    The company said the project was aimed at lifting the wellbeing of the old occupants of the home.

    At the organisation’s end-of-year party held within the premises, the firm’s Managing Director, Chike Onebekwe, said the company donated a 30KVA generator to the home last year. The renovated six-room block was handed over to managers of the home.

    Onebekwe said: “We identify with children and senior citizens as part of our social investments portfolio which cuts across health, education and social services. Recently, SNEPCO identified with children with special needs at Modupe Cole Memorial Childcare, Lagos by expanding and equipping its physiotherapy unit. Also, we were there last year for the end-of-year party.”

    The Director, Social Welfare Department, Office of Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, Musbau Abdulahi, commended the organisation and urged other corporate organisations to emulate its CSR gesture.

  • Shell, firm seal $84.5m pipeline contract

    KAZTEC Engineering Limited (KEL), an indigenous oil service company, has signed an agreement with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) for the construction of a 58-kilometre loopline at $84.5 million.

    According to a statement by Kaztec, the agreement for Package 1 of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of Trans-Nigeria Pipeline Loopline Project for Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria (SNEPCO), was concluded last week.

    The pipeline contract is expected to be completed and delivered within one year and Kaztec has assured Shell of delivering within the stipulated time frame.

    “This is the first major project to be executed by Kaztec Engineering Limited for Shell. The event took place at the SPDC Office, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, with high-powered delegations from both parties in attendance,” the company said.

    The objective of the project, Kaztec said, is to construct a three-inch, 58-kilometre loopline from the Ogale manifold to Bonny Terminal, in the South-South region of Nigeria. SNEPCO had been experiencing challenges with the current Trans-Niger Project. Seen by SNEPCO and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), to be an emergency project. It was divided into three packages. Kaztec Engineering is to undertake Package One, having been chosen on the strength of its recent track record in the oil and gas sector, the statement added.

    The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kaztec Engineering Limited, Ikechukwu Okpala, assured SNEPCO of KEL‘s delivery on time and quality, promising Shell’s management that it would get a taste of the Kaztec expertise.

    The contract-signing was done by the General Manager, Offshore and Shallow Water Projects, SNEPCO, Mr. Toyin Olagunju, on behalf of Shell and the Executive Chairman, KEL, Sir Emeka Offor, for Kaztec while Chioma Ogunuka, Contracting and Procurement Lead Pipeline Projects of SNEPCO, and the COO of KEL, Ikechukwu Okpala, among others witnessed the signing ceremony.

    SNEPCO’s Toyin Olagunju, said he looked forward to the successful completion of the project. He called for world-class performance on all aspects of the project, with particular attention on safety and environment. He advocated for zero-incident execution of the project.

    The Chairman Kaztec Engineering Limited, Sir Emeka Offor, declared that SNEPCO reassured Shell of KEL‘s commitment to deliver on time, and even surpass all expectations of the project. He said he was glad to join the Shell family, and looked forward to a productive partnership in the years to come.

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC/SPDC joint venture (SPDC JV), had earlier announced that it has taken decision to invest $3.9 billion in the Trans Niger Pipeline loop-line (TNPL) and the Gbaran-Ubie Phase Two projects. T

    SPDC Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, said the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) is important for Nigeria, pumping some 180,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal and is part of the gas liquids evacuation infrastructure, critical for continued domestic power generation (Afam VI power plant) and liquefied gas exports.

    He said: “Sections of the TNP have been heavily impacted by sabotage and crude oil theft. The design of the TNPL includes improvements which make the pipeline better protected against crude oil theft and sabotage, which should help to reduce pollution related to criminal activity which was a key aspect of a 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland. The total capital investment for the TNPL project bundle is expected to be $1.5 billion while the total investment for the Gbaran-Ubie Phase Two bundle is $2.4 billion.”