Shell in talks with Kolo Creek communities in Bayelsa over plans to disrupt operations

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Monday said it was working with the Bayelsa government to resolve a dispute with host communities over delays in the timeline for the electricity project.

The four communities constituting Kolo-Creek Cluster Development Board in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on March 8 threatened to ground operations at Shell’s oilfields over failure to provide electricity.

The 14-day ultimatum is sequel to several delays by the oil firm which had resulted in missed timelines to deliver power as pledged.

The Bayelsa government which has been mediating in the dispute following a protest in Dec 2021, however, urged the people to exercise restraint.

Reacting to the resolution of the four communities to disrupt operations at the Kolo Creek fields, Mr Michael Adande, an SPDC Spokesman assured that the oil firm was working to resolve the dispute amicably.

Adande said: “The Bayelsa State Government and SPDC are working with the beneficiary communities to deliver the backup electricity project based on a rescheduled delivery timeline.”

The ultimatum letter which was jointly signed by the paramount rulers of Imiringi, Otuasega, Oruma and Elebele communities demanded restoration of electricity among other due obligations yet to be met.

They demanded the immediate operationalization of the 2.5 MVA generator installed by Morpol Engineering Services Limited, and the award of contract for the Oruma high tension line.

They stated that the SPDC had “deliberately refused to honour the agreements it had with the cluster communities on several occasions since 2013.

They noted that the communities had unanimously resolved to shut down all the oil installations and platforms in Kolo-Creek at the expiration of the 14 days’ ultimatum.