Bayelsa Communities Threaten Oil Field

Host communities to the multi billion naira SPDC E.A oil field have threatened to shut down operations at the facilities in protest over what they described as the alleged refusal of the oil giant to comply with the provisions of the local content and community employment opportunities as contained in Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) entered into with them.

Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, yesterday, defended its operations at the multi-billion naira E.A oil field, saying it had not violated the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, entered into with its host communities in Bayelsa State.

Reacting to the threat by the host communities under the aegis of Association of Basan West, Iduwini, Kou and Mein Cluster Development Boards and Foundations to shut  operations at the facilities over its alleged refusal to comply with the provisions of the local content and community employment opportunities as contained in its GMoU with the former, Shell said between 2007 and 2010, it had spent some N3.4 billion on projects in the 12 EA host communities.

Shell spokesman, Mr. Precious Okolobo, in a statement  in Yenagoa, said contrary to the host communities’ claim that the company failed to comply with the provisions of the local content and community employment opportunities, it trained 12 scaffolders and painters currently working on the Sea Eagle (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessels) in addition to the 12 community focal representatives engaged by it.