There is indication that the total daily oil production in the country has reduced by 200 barrels due to oil spillage at the Dubril Oil Company limited located at Ughoton in Edo State.
Clement Seweje, director community relations of the organization gave the hint in Benin during a press briefing on the circumstances that led to the oil production reduction.
Seweje added that the oil company produced 340 barrels per day and out of which 200 barrels have been lost due to shut-in of the oil well leaving the production to 140 barrels.
While attributing the reduction to damage pipelines in one of its two host communities, he added that the incident occurred on December 28, 2013 along the Udo-Ughoton-Gelegele Road in Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State.
He attributed the spillage to the construction of Gele- Gele- Benin road by the Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2004 2009.
The oil firm image maker however disclosed that as part of efforts to forestall future occurrence the management have invited technical consultant with a bid to isolate the pipeline from the major road.
He added that the management is currently collating the contractor’s quotation to award the contract for the purpose of routing the pipelines out of the road.
He posited that as a result of the incident about 200 barrels have been shut-in noting that not until the pipeline is fixed much production work will not be carried out on the well that has been shut-in.
Seweje however called for the cooperation of the Ughoton community to the establishment during the fixing of the damaged pipeline.
He however debunked the allegation by Ughoton Community that the company neglected the community, saying that Dubril has been discharging its corporate social responsibility to the community.
Seweje listed some of the amenities Dubril provided for Ughoton to include electricity, scholarships, Health Centre, town-hall, renovation of primary school, empowerment programme for 14 youths and provision of employment.
He however lamented that though the company pay taxes and rates to the Edo State Government and Ovia North-East Council, authorities of the two of the two governments have not come to its aid in the face-off between it and Ughoton community.
By: IDRIS UMAR MOMOH
