Chevron, host community bicker over source of oil spill

Nathan Tamarapreye

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and its host communities are at variance over leaks reported at Funiwa Oil Fields operated by the oil film off Bayelsa shoreline.

Fishermen operating near the Atlantic Ocean coastline had on Sunday reported an oil leak suspected to be from the Funiwa Fields.

While the fishermen from CNL’s host community at Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area point accusing fingers at Chevron, the oil firm denies the allegations.

In a reaction to the development, Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, at Chevron said in a short email response that there was no oil leakage from its operations in Bayelsa.

“Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and CNL (the NNPC/CNL JV), confirms that there has been no oil spill incident at any of its facilities in Bayelsa State,” he said.

However, Chief Young Fabby, a Community leader in Koluama 1, said in a telephone chat on Monday that the denial by Chevron was merely a ploy to evade liability for the leak and associated pollution.

He said that Chevron had deployed several helicopters to apply chemical dispersants to dissolve and breakdown the oil deposits on the water surface without the knowledge of stakeholders in a bid to cover up the spill.

“The oil company equally used the Navy and security personnel to ward off fishermen who tried to shoot photographs and video of the exercise being carried out by helicopters.

“If there was not leak why did they deploy Naval personnel and soldiers to cordon off the area.

“We are precise about the location of the oil discharge, it is at Well No, 5 within the Funiwa field location, we have video clips of the leakage and wondered why Chevron is denying this incident.

“They have been using chemicals without first informing the regulators and the community, as we speak, I am at the coastline and we have a heap of nets stained with oil and the crude oil has hit the coast,” Fabby said.

Another Community leader from the area, Mr Mathew Sele-Epri said that there was ample evidence of the oil spill adding that he personally went to the site to verify the claim.

He said that all the operators near the area had denied liability and that the community leadership will enlist the assistance of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment to determine the source.

“All the companies near the spot, Chevron and Conoil have denied ownership of the oil and we now wonder who has the oil, we are going to engage the state ministry of environment to help us track the source.

“They will bring the regulators to take samples and match the ones we have taken and conduct a fingerprint test to find out which of the operators is responsible,” Sele-Epri said.

When Contacted, Mr Idris Musa, Director General, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) said that the Agency would dispatch its officials to the Funiwa field to ascertain the source and cause of the leak.

First Exploration and Production an indigenous oil firm operates Oil Mining Leases 83 and 85 acquired from Chevron following its divestment from some of its assets in the area where it still retains interests in some fields.

Conoil Producing Limited, another Indegenous oil firm operates at nearby oil blocks.

Officials of Conoil and First Exploration and Production have yet to respond to requests for comments on the incident.