THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Nigerian Militants Prevent Repairs On Pipeline Leak-Shell: “Militants are stopping Royal Dutch/Shell Group (RD SC) from repairing an 18-inch pipeline in the Niger Delta leaking since Nov. 29, the company's Nigeria unit said Thursday.” (ShellNews.net) 2 Dec04

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

December 2, 2004

LAGOS -- Militants are stopping Royal Dutch/Shell Group (RD SC) from repairing an 18-inch pipeline in the Niger Delta leaking since Nov. 29, the company's Nigeria unit said Thursday.

In a statement, Shell Petroleum Development Co. said it hasn't been able to send teams to repair or asses the size or cause of the leak because militants are blocking access to the site.

SPDC said saboteurs set fire to two leaks, while a spill containment contractor sent by the company to the to site was chased away by youths.

"The militants have also seized two SPDC vehicles," the statement added.

SPDC said it had approached agencies of the Rivers State government to intervene in the crisis, "in the interest of safety of lives and the environment."

SPDC is the largest oil producing company in Nigeria, with its output accounting for nearly half of Nigeria's daily crude oil production.

-By Vincent Nwanma; Dow Jones Newswires; +234-1-585-0849; vinwanma@beta.linkserve.com