The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) says its multi-billion-naira oil pipeline project in the Niger Delta is nearing completion.

The Corporate Media Relations Manager of Shell, Mr Tony Okonedo, said in Port Harcourt yesterday that the construction of the new 97 kilometre Nembe Creek trunk line worth 1.1 billion dollars was nearing completion.

Okonedo said that the new trunk line would have the capacity to transport 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day from 14 flow stations in the Niger Delta to Bonny export terminal in Rivers. He said, "with half of the line so far completed, it will take the place of an existing pipeline scheduled for replacement.

"It is currently the largest single project under the SPDC JV's ongoing asset integrity programme that has replaced more than 1,000 kilometres of major pipelines and flow lines in the last five years. "Some 318 kilometres of crude oil pipeline was replaced last year alone."

Okonedo said the shareholders of the joint venture were the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (55%), SPDC Ltd (30%), Total E&P Nigeria Limited (10%) and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (5%).

He said the joint ventures integrity programme would ensure that all facilities and equipment, such as well heads, pipelines, flow lines, flow stations, terminals and gas plants were regularly monitored, maintained and replaced when necessary.

Contributing, the Managing Director of Shell, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, said, "We strive to maintain our facilities to the highest standards.

"It is simply a good, responsible business approach that not only protects the environment and helps our community relations, but also maximises our production capability. "Of course, the continued high incidence of sabotage and theft makes the job more difficult on top of the normal maintenance requirements of our operations.

"It is important to understand that projects such as these will have only a limited impact on oil spills until the widespread oil theft, sabotage and vandalism activities are stopped." NAN learnt that sabotage and oil theft accounted for 98 per cent of the oil spilled from SPDC JV facilities in 2009.

NAN