Investigation into the January 16, spills near Funiwa offshore facilities off the coast of Bayelsa State has taken environmentalists, regulators and the state government beyond Chevron facilities to nearby Auntie Julie platform, operated by Conoil.

The team, on two occasions visited communities affected by the oil leakage in Koluama and Sangana, Southern Ijaw Local government continued in its effort in tracing the source of the leakage.

They took samples from the polluted sites for laboratory analysis in a bid to arrive at an evidence-based conclusion.

Investigating team comprising the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Oil and Gas, Chief Timi Seimiebo, officials of NOSDRA, DPR, Bayelsa State Ministries of Environment and Mineral Resources, ERA/FoEN, DSS and KEFFES, had visited Conoil’s facility at Sangana waters and other impacted communities in Bayelsa.

Prior to the visit, community leaders confirmed sighting Conoil’s jackup rig at the spill site. Secretary, Sangana Chiefs Council, Chief Ayebatonye Zagiri, said Conoil had brought a Jackup rig to the location where the spill occurred.

“Without notice, Otis Jack up barge just rushed in and hang up at a location where our people suspected to be the spill point. They tried to do work over there. We also identified it as Otis Jack up rig that propels itself. It doesn’t need vessels to pull it here or there.

“But this is Conoil field. This spill has been tormenting us, damaging our fishing gears for close to seven months, because it all started last year. The recent one (the one reported to have occurred on 16th January, 2021), just damaged and devastated our gears.”

SSA to the Governor Douye Diri on Oil & Gas, Mr. Timi Seimiebo, regretted that the entire coastline was condemned with crude oil, as dead fishes and other aquatic animals were seen floating on the bank, while calling on the Federal Government to prevail on Conoil to do the needful.

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Source: SweetCrudeReports