An Oil spill response firm from the United Kingdom has joined Total Energy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to tackle the crude oil spill from Egina.
With this Nigeria may be losing about 2.3 million barrel of crude oil as a result of spill from Egina oil field in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Daily Trust investigation learnt.
Egina is a Floating Production and Storage and Offloading (FPSO). Discovered in 2003, the Egina oil field is located at water depth of between 1,400 and 1,700 metres, 200 kilometer offshore from Port Harcourt and it’s is operated by TotalEnergies.
Egina FPSO is 330 metres in length,61 metre across and 34 metre high and with a storage capacity of 2.3 million barrel.
The Crude oil spill incident took place during loading operations in Egina around 6.30am on November 15, 2023.
It has continued to spread since then despite concerted efforts by NIMASA, TotalEnergies, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA, and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC to contain the spillage.
Though the volume of spill is not yet confirmed, Total Energies is currently providing aerial surveillance, dispersant application, while further mobilization is being considered.
Reconnaissance survey of the impacted area confirms that the shoreline communities of Andoni, Qua-Iboe terminals, Bonny Island, Opobo/Nkoro and Eastern Obolo, which are closest to Egina, are not yet affected.
NIMASA is working closely with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA, and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC from the Crisis Management Room CMR, where the spill is being monitored real time using oil spill monitoring software from the Emergency Response Center.
The Oil Spill Response Limited from the United Kingdom is also assisting with pollution control measures.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, noted in a statement signed by the Head of the Public Relations unit of the Agency, Mr. Edward Osagie, noted that the Agency is in collaboration with all stakeholders to control the pollution and also put in place measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, in line with provisions of the MARPOL Convention.
“Since the incident happened, our men have been liaising with other organs of Government to ensure the pollution is effectively controlled and managed, to protect the marine environment and the communities close to the incident point.
“Accidents do happen, it’s what we do thereafter that matters and I believe that the IOC Total, working with NIMASA, NUPRC, NOSDRA and collaborating with international service providers, will surely ensure proper management of the spill” he said.