Cablegate: Nigeria: Youths Shut Shell Flow Station

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

121555Z Jul 05

UNCLAS LAGOS 001107

SIPDIS

STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAYE
STATE PASS DOC KBURRESS
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION MARAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
STATE PASS EX-IM FOR JRICHTER AND KVRANICH
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND JEDWARDS
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT AND BTERNET

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EPET ELAB KDEM PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: YOUTHS SHUT SHELL FLOW STATION

1. (U) The Billie, River State, flow station of oil giant
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was shut down by
angry youths on July 6. Press reports associated the
youths' action with the National Political Reform
Conference's refusal to grant greater control of oil and gas
resources to states located in the Niger Delta region.
owver, Sell Exernal Affairs Director, Don Boham
disagreed, saying issues regarding outstanding community
projects agreed to in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
signed by SPDC and the Billie Community were the root cause
of the protest.

2. (U) Boham confirmed that the flow station, which produces
about 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily, was reopened on
Thursday July 7, but later shut in again by the angry
protesters. He stated no workers have been taken hostage,
and there have been no threats to workers' lives or company
property. Boham says negotiations are currently on-going
between SPDC and community leaders. Meanwhile, the flow
station remains closed.

Howe

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