Shell Reports 122% Surge in Oil Spills in Nigeria for 2024, Blaming Equipment Failures and Crude Theft
Shell Plc has reported a staggering 122% increase in oil spill incidents in Nigeria in 2024, compared to the previous year. According to its 2024 Annual Report, Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), recorded 20 operational spill events involving over 100 kilograms of crude oil, up from 9 incidents in 2023. This sharp rise highlights growing environmental and operational challenges for the energy giant in the Niger Delta region.
The primary cause of the increase in operational spills was identified as a factory defect in a batch of locally manufactured clamps used to repair pipelines after illegal connections were removed. The faulty clamps have since been recalled by the manufacturer, and SPDC has begun replacing them. Notably, two major incidents contributed to most of the spill volume in 2024—one occurring onshore along the Trans Niger Pipeline and the other offshore at a terminal loading buoy.
Shell’s report also emphasizes that crude oil theft and sabotage continue to be major contributors to spills in Nigeria. Despite a decrease in the number of such incidents—84 in 2024 versus 139 in 2023—the total volume spilled due to theft and sabotage increased to 2,000 tonnes from 1,400 tonnes in 2023. Shell attributes the fewer incidents to improvements in anti-theft mechanisms, even though the impact of those fewer incidents was more severe.
In response, SPDC has expanded its surveillance and infrastructure protection programs. These include ground monitoring, surveillance drone flights, and improved security features like protective cages, anti-theft nuts, and enhanced CCTV systems. These initiatives aim to detect spills and illegal activities earlier and improve the response time to mitigate environmental damage.
Shell also reported ongoing collaboration with Nigerian government security agencies to combat crude oil theft and sabotage. The SPDC joint venture continues to prioritize replacing and maintaining vulnerable pipeline sections and increasing the resilience of key infrastructure. Despite Shell’s efforts, the growing number and volume of spills underscore the persistent risks and environmental costs associated with oil extraction in Nigeria.
Source: Nairametric