New Jersey—A group, the Ijaw Diaspora OML 29 oil spill: Group calls for immediate remediation, compensation for affected communities
(IDC), has urged Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited to accelerate its remediation efforts in arresting the spill that occurred at well 1, OML 29 near Bassambiri (Opu Nembe) in Nembe local government areas of Bayelsa State.
The group made this known in a letter dated November 15, 2021, addressed to Mr. Benedict Peters, Chief Executive Officer of the company and signed by Professor Mondy Gold, President, Ijaw Diaspora Council, Dr. Festus Odubo, Director of Community Outreach and Dr. Brisibe Nabena, Director of Conflict Resolution.
According to the group, it is estimated by international experts that about 100,000 barrels of toxic hydrocarbon fluids have been released into the ecosystem in the area.
While calling on the company to adequately compensate affected communities, they also averred that the spill has affected the communities ecologically, socially and economically.
The letter reads in part:
“Aiteo must properly plug the blowout, as required by Nigerian law and retain the failed Christmas tree structure atop the wellhead for future independent analysis to ascertain the source of failure.
“Aiteo must immediately deploy sufficient oil spill containment and clean up equipment and personnell to contain and collect as much of the spilled hydrocarbon pollutant as possible, as required by Nigerian law and hire as many local community members as possible.
“This is clearly a tier III oil spill (largest category) and Aiteo should contract with local and international experts such as Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) in Southampton, UK or other experts to conduct a large scale Tier III spill response.
“Aiteo must provide immediate response funding directed by Aiteo to the affected Ijaw people of at least $500,000 to be used by the affected people to support their initial sustenance in response to the spill.
“This initial funding will no way prejudice future claims for compensation for the spill and will allow local Ijaw people to purchase alternative food resources during the spill, as contaminated fish from the spill area cannot be consumed; purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); conduct overall response to this emergency; etc. This response fund is not to be directed to the IDC but to the affected communities.
“Aiteo must agree to support and cooperate with a technical advisor for the Ijaw communities joining the official Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
“Aiteo must immediately commission an independent, scientific, environmental damage assessment by a credible, independent scientific institution.
“Aiteo must preserve all evidence, including, documents, videos and photographs, and actual equipment (in particular the failed Christmas tree structure) that may be relevant to determining cause of the wellhead failure and spill.
“Aiteo must provide the community with all records pertaining to this well, including its design and installation, any/ all inspection and maintenance the company has performed on the well, any deficiencies the company has noted, all corrective/remedial actions the company has taken on the well prior to this catastrophic spill, etc.”
Meanwhile, the Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited had stated that the cause of the spill nor the quantity of spilled hydrocarbon could be determined at the time of the discovery.
Through its media contact,
Ndiana Matthew, the company revealed that containment booms have been deployed and recovery efforts have commenced around the well head.
”As an incident of this nature imports, the necessary Oil Spill Notification Report have been promptly communicated to National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission(NUPRC) and National Petroleum Investment Services (NAPIMS) as is required by regulation.
“Ultimately, a Joint Investigative Visit, JIV to the spill site was held by all relevant stakeholders, community inclusive.
“The JIV at the time, was inconclusive, owing to difficulties with access due to high pressure of hydrocarbons from the well head.
“Additionally, immediate efforts to control the leak were aborted due to the high pressure emanating from the well head.
“Consequently, Aiteo has mobilized a full intervention team with well control specialists and equipment both locally and internationally to arrest the leak,” the statement reads,” the company stated.
