Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the NNPC / Aiteo Joint Venture on OML 29, has confirmed that it has detected an oil leak at its Nembe swamp facility in OML 29, in the Nembe Kingdom of Bayelsa State.
It was reported earlier today that an oil spill had occured at the Nembe Creek on OML 29 on Monday evening, being ochastrated by a facility operated by Aiteo Exploration and Production Limited.
But Aiteo owning up through a statement on Wednesday and issued by Ndiana Mathew, Aiteo Media person, also accepted that the leak was noticed on Monday, June 17, 2024, during routine operations.
The statement continued: “AEEPCO’s Oil Spill and Emergency Response Team was immediately activated and all production from OML 29 shut down.
“This is a precautionary measure, while mobilizing additional resources to contain the spill. The cause of the spill is currently undetermined. However, we are proactively engaging with stakeholders to mitigate the immediate effects.”
Also, according to the statement, AEEPCO’s Group Managing Director, Victor Okoronkwo, said: “During our operations on Monday, June 17, 2024, the subject leak was detected.
“A Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) with stakeholders has been initiated to determine the cause of this incident. While we regret the production losses to the Joint Venture and the nation and the potential environmental impact, our current priority is to expedite an efficient spill management process in line with regulatory standards and collaborate with all stakeholders to restore production and mitigate associated risks.
“Our joint venture partners and the relevant regulators; The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have been notified of the incident.” The statement concluded.
