Shell seeks peaceful resolution to OML-25 impasse

By Mazino Dickson

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is seeking for a peaceful resolution of all issues to enable it resume safe operations of its (OML-25) Belema oil and gas facility.

This resolve comes after women from Belema, Offoin-ama and Ngeje communities hosting OML-25 recently occupied the facility and shutdown operations in August 2017, for an alleged neglect and no development.

The OML-25 host communities want the Federal Government to carry-out a fact-finding visit to the area to ascertain SPDC’s claim of spending 300 million dollars on developmental projects in the communities.

But Igo Weli, SPDC General Manager, External Relations, debunked the allegation that SPDC neglected the development of communities in Kula kingdom and Belema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas of Rivers.

He urged all stakeholders to give the government-led mediation process the needed chance for a peaceful resolution.

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“To protect the health, safety and security of all concerned, including community members, SPDC staff and contractors and the facility,” he said.

“The host communities of OML-25 have continued to benefit from contract awards, employment of unskilled labour and our social investment programmes, including yearly award of regular and special scholarships to eligible candidates from the area,” he added.

He said that Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd-operated Joint Venture (SPDC JV)’s commitment to the welfare of host communities in the Niger Delta remained unshaken.

According to Weli, notwithstanding that SPDC has divested its equity in OML 24, which covers most of the communities in Kula and Belema, the SPDC JV has continued to implement agreed Social Investment programmes.

“Programmes such as, scholarship and entrepreneurship schemes for the communities there, even with the divestment of its interest in OML 24, SPDC relinquished operatorship of the facilities in that field,” the general manager said.