The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has listed series of action plans to deal with the massive oil spill from the Aiteo’s Santa Barbara Well in Nembe, Bayelsa state.
This is as the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has expressed dismay over the position of Aiteo that the oil spill was caused by sabotage, describing the oil firm’s position as prejudicial, pre-emptive and unacceptable.
The action plans listed by NUPRC CEO, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe are as follows:
* Aiteo to activate emergency Environmental Management Plan (EMP);
*Aiteo to carry out Post Impact Assessment (PIA) study of the spill; and, the Joint Investigation Team to determine the cause of the spill and to convey the extent of impact and quantity of crude spilled.
According to the NUPRC boss, these measures will be put in place as the Commission continues to investigate and monitor the situation.
Komolafe explained that the Commission received the report of the spill, which occurred at the Santa Barbara Well via the statutory regulatory requirement of submission of form A by Aiteo, andit immediately swung into action to investigate the incident in conjunction with other stakeholders.
He gave a firm assurance that the Commission will ensure that all necessary steps in line with global best practices were deployed in the management of the situation.
He also pledge to ensure that the spill has minimal impact on the environment and the livelihood of the people of the community, adding that remediation would be done as soon as possible. Komolafe also promised that that the outcome of the investigation into the incident would be communicated to the public when concluded.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has criticised Aiteo’s poor response to the November 5 oil spill stating it was wrong for the oil firm to attribute it to sabotage when a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) had not been conducted on the incident.
President of the Association, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, stated this during a media briefing at the national secretariat of the organisation in Yenagoa.
Okaba noted that Aiteo’s position was capable of jeopardizing the outcome of the JIV that is yet to be carried out as crude oil is still leaking from the facility.
“Since the leak occurred, Aiteo has been complaining that it does not have the capacity to mobilise personnel to clamp the leaking point on the facility.
“So the question is: without the JIV, how did they come up to ascertain that it is caused by sabotage?” IYC President rhetorically asked.