Shell declares force majeure on Nigerian Bonny Light crude lifting on shutdown of pipeline by operator

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, has declared a force majeure on the export of Bonny Light crude oil grade, following the shutdown of a key pipeline transporting the crude oil grade to the export terminal.

In a statement Friday, the company said it declared the force majeure due to the shutdown of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line by its operator, Aiteo, adding that the declaration has been communicated to its partners and stakeholders since 12 pm Nigerian time on Thursday. The pipeline is one of two that export Bonny Light crude.

The declaration of force majeure on Bonny Light is coming after the company last month lifted force majeure on exports of Nigeria’s Forcados crude oil grade.

The Forcados grade, which typically exports 200,000 to 240,000 barrels per day (bpd), was under force majeure for about 16 months, following a militant attack on the main export route, the Trans Forcados Pipeline.

It is also coming few weeks to the commencement of crude oil lifting from Forcados. In fact a loading programme by Shell for June exports is expected to have lifted planned exports from Nigeria to at least a 15-month high.