Shell hopes to 'return pipeline back to normal' by November

13 October 2011

Shell hopes to resume normal oil production levels in Nigeria by early November after a key pipeline was attacked.

The 50 km (30 mile) Trans Forcados pipeline was damaged in an attack that happened against a backdrop of rising oil theft in the Niger Delta region, reports the AFP.

However, the oil giant has said it hopes to resume production earlier than expected after declaring a 'force majeure', meaning certain export obligations in the country do not have to be fulfilled.

Shell's vice president in Nigeria Tony Attah said that the company expects to complete the repair "as soon as possible" so that the line can be re-opened.

"It means the force majeure we declared on Forcados offtake programme will be lifted late October/early November as soon as Forcados production has returned to normal levels," he added.

Earlier this year a $630 million (£391 million) project was announced to build a natural gas pipeline to supply power to Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. 

Category: Energy