Chevron Shuts Down Crude Production

Following the recent attacks witnessed in the Niger-Delta region and on one of its oil facilities, Chevron Nigeria Limited has shut down its Southern Nigeria Facility that provides 15,000 barrels per day of crude oil production from its Funiwa oilfield, an offshore facility in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. According to the company’s spokesperson, the U.S. oil giant shut down the oil facility as a safety measure. The dreaded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the attack and assured the state government that the hostages would be released unconditionally on the 30th of May. The group claimed that their action was aimed at embarrassing the government of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo, who steps down on May 29 after serving two terms. “We promised to give the present administration a shameful send-off”. This attack is one in a series intended to embarrass the regime, a MEND spokesman said in an email.
  Nigeria has become the world’s sixth-biggest oil exporter, with daily output of some 2.6 million barrels. Chevron, the country’s third operator, accounts for production of 520,000 barrels per day.
  The Niger Delta, a swathe of creeks and swamps is home to Nigeria’s multi-billion dollar oil and gas industry. The region has seen a comeback in violent attacks on oil firms and personnel over the past two years. We can only hope that with the dawn of a new administration come 29th of May, we will possibly see an end to all the violence that has plagued the region in recent times.