Summons Chevron, Shell, others over oil spills, explosion

From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja
Monday, January 23, 2012

Senate has invited chief executives of Chevron, Shell, Director General of NOSDRA and Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) for a

comprehensive briefing on the Bonga oil spill and explosion in their respective facilities.

An explosion on an oil rig belonging to Chevron resulted in a very serious fire last week while feelers indicate that the Bonga oil spill from Shell is a significant one having reportedly hit the shoreline as observed by surveillance with consequential impact on the environment.

The invited executives are expected to meet with Senate Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and Environment and Ecology led by Senators Emmanuel Paulker and Bukola Saraki respectively.
Chevron and Shell are expected to, in consultation the Senate, work out an initial impact assessment of the contamination and begin immediate clean up of the area, it was gathered yesterday.

Daily Sun, however, gathered that two experts were already feared dead in the Chevron explosion while the managing director had already submitted a technical report to the Upstream Committee ahead of its tomorrow's meeting with the Senate. In a statement by Saraki's media adviser, Mr. Akintoba Fatigun, yesterday, the two committees assured Nigerians affected by the twin incidents of security of lives and property and adequate compensation arising from loss of economic activities.

"The committee wishes to assure all Nigerians and indeed the communities within the areas of impact, especially Koloma towns 1 and 2, Fishtown and Frupa that it will take all necessary steps to ensure that measures necessary are taken to protect the communities and the wider Nigerian environment and resources."We will also ensure that Chevron takes appropriate steps to contain the spill, remediate the impacted area and if there has been any loss as a result, ensure that adequate compensation is paid to the immediate community," a part of the statement said.

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