The Guardian (UK): Nigerian villagers seize Shell oil platforms: “Hundreds of unarmed Nigerian villagers, including women and children, seized three oil platforms operated by Shell and ChevronTexaco yesterday, shutting 90,000 barrels a day of production in a jobs dispute.” (ShellNews.net) 6 Dec 04
Agencies and Mark Milner
Monday December 6, 2004
Hundreds of unarmed Nigerian villagers, including women and children, seized three oil platforms operated by Shell and ChevronTexaco yesterday, shutting 90,000 barrels a day of production in a jobs dispute.
Members of the Kula community in the southeastern Rivers state occupied the platforms without causing any injuries and had yet to make any demands, company spokesmen said.
"Youths from the Kula community attacked some of our facilities today and forcefully shut them down," a Shell spokesman said, adding that it had shut 70,000 barrels per day, or bpd, at the Ekulama I and II flow stations.
"Reports indicate that there were 300 people, including men, women and children," a ChevronTexaco spokesman added. The US-based company shut 20,000 bpd at Robertkiri.
Disputes between oil multinationals and communities are common in the vast wetlands region that pumps all of Nigeria's 2.5m bpd of oil, and often lead to occupations, hostage-taking and sabotage.
In September, a heavily armed ethnic militia threatened to blow up oil facilities in Rivers state, in the eastern delta, helping to drive oil prices above $50 per barrel, in a dispute over oil money and political power. But that group seems to be unconnected to this action.
Oil industry sources said this dispute was over jobs for the Kula community, located near the state border with Bayelsa.
Millions of impoverished inhabitants of the Niger Delta, largely abandoned by their government, feel they should benefit more from the huge wealth being pumped from their tribal lands.
"The people were not armed. They just came in large numbers. We still have to find out if they have a genuine grievance," said a senior Nigerian oil industry source.
Oil prices have been falling and are down nearly 15% in the last week, settling at $42.54 a barrel in New York on Friday. There are fears this latest action could cause a jump in prices.
· Energy regulator Ofgem has launched an initiative to tackle fuel poverty by helping vulnerable customers to be more aware of schemes to help them.
Sir John Mogg, chairman, said: "Our research shows that too many people simply do not know about the amount of help that is available."
The initiative comes as consumers are facing rising bills for gas and electricity, partly linked to rising oil prices.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1367404,00.html