Shell Confirms Oil Spill In Port Harcourt, Attributes Incident To Saver Pit Overflow

Shell Confirms Oil Spill in Port Harcourt, Attributes Incident to Saver Pit Overflow

Shell Petroleum has reported an oil spill in Ogale, a community near Port Harcourt, following a saver pit overflow during flushing operations. The company’s spill response team quickly intervened to contain the leak and notified relevant authorities.

Investigation Underway

According to Shell, plans are in place for a joint inspection, led by regulatory bodies, to assess the cause and environmental impact of the spill. A spokesperson for the company confirmed that efforts are ongoing to prevent further contamination.

YEAC-Nigeria Reacts

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) revealed that the incident stemmed from an underground pit filled with crude, which eventually flowed into a pipeline linked to the Ogoni cleanup project. The advocacy group has raised concerns about the recurring environmental hazards posed by oil spills in the region.

Longstanding Environmental Challenges

Nigeria’s Niger Delta has suffered from decades of oil spills, leading to severe environmental degradation. The contamination has devastated local livelihoods, polluted water sources, and triggered significant health issues for millions of residents.

As authorities and environmental groups investigate the latest spill, affected communities await further action to mitigate the long-term impact.