24 November 1999

by PATRICK NAAGBANTON

HIGHLIGHTS

a. Oil spills devastate rural ecology
b. Shell's double standards cause crisis among community people
c. Fresh oil spill heightens tension
d. Fresh crisis imminent

"When oil spills here, those of us who go to the mangrove forest to harvest periwinkle and other sea foods suffer. The crude oil affects the growth and development of the mangrove forest resources such as periwinkles, oysters, crabs etc. When the river is polluted they all die."
- Mrs. Ikuroma Samipe, 36 years old mother of 5 children (a fisher woman).

"We are tired of talking about spills because talking about it is very shameful, if you talk and people respond that is a different and tolerable situation. We have talked and are tired. I remember when we never had these spills, we used to go fishing and would catch fishes in very large quantities, of different types. But, today you people call it modern period and our fishes and other things are dying and hunger is killing our children and us. Is this civilization?"
- Ali Omuso, 58 years fisherman and father of 14 children

"Our parents depend on fishing to feed and train us in school. These days, no matter how they double their effort in the fishing business, the catch is very low and inadequate, the Shell people should employ our parents and pay them better money since their work doesn't allow our parents to continue their work."
- Mr. West Tomb Okoma, 20 years old student of the Rivers State College of Arts and Science (RSCAS), Port Harcourt

INTRODUCTION

Bille is a rural community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. Bille is an ancient autonomous community and is made up of 15 villages and 40 fishing settlements. It is about two hours drive by an outboard engine powered boat from Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State. Bille is a typical saltwater riverine community with rich mangrove vegetation. The main occupation of the people is fishing. The community has a population of 30,000 peoples (Nigerias 1991 census). The Bille community houses 2 flow stations belonging to Shell and hosts their 24 well heads. Nothing less than 41,000 barrels of crude oil per day are sucked out of the bowels of the earth here, going by Shell's conservative estimate. Shell discovered oil in Bille land in commercial quantity in 1958.

UNENDING SPILLS; ECOLOGICAL DEVASTATION / POLLUTION IN BILLE

On January 20, 1997 oil spill occurred at the Awoba flow station (now Bille II) and a large quantity of crude oil spilled into the entire EMO-PEPELYE creek causing extensive damage to the aquatic lives therein. Even the connecting creeks and mangrove forests were devastated. Shell's contractors cleaned the spill, but no compensation was paid. The negotiation for compensation broke down between Shell and the community peoples and other events subsequently over took the process.

January 10, 1998, spill occurred at Well 9 at Awoba flow station (now Bille II). An enormous amount of crude oil was discharged into the environment, with the waters of Sombriero River conveying the sludge over a wide area.

May 29, 1998, another major spill occurred at same Well 9 at Awoba flow station. Shell's aged pipeline "exploded" and a huge quantity of crude oil was rained into the ecosystem. A day after the incidence Shell repaired the faulty facility and mopped up the affected area and paid compensation, but rural peoples told ERA that the compensation was not enough given the high level of ecological damage they suffered.

August 27, 1998 at Well 13, the delivering pipeline from Well 13 to Awoba flow station exploded and set the facility ablaze and the adjacent mangrove forest was enflamed. Several fishing traps, and nets around the affected area were burnt. There was a stampede and several community peoples in the nearby mangrove forests harvesting forest produces got wounded

On January 10, 1999 at the Awoba manifold, another spill occurred too. This spill occurred from rusty high-pressure crude oil pipes. Community people told ERA that this was a major spill. The crude oil rose up to 5 feet above ground level and poisoned the mangrove vegetation. Although community peoples told ERA that a little compensation was paid, but Shell could not clean the spill effectively.

May 18, 1999 at the Well 12 Awoba (Bille I), "a minor spill" occurred as a result of failure of Shell's facility. The community mobilized her youths and "cleaned" the spill using rags.

The youth leader, Mr. Bruce Balafama told ERA in an interview, "The community people considers the spill major, Shell considers it minor and the spill was neither cleaned nor compensation paid". Experts maintain that no matter how little the volume of crude oil introduced into any vulnerable environment, like that of aquatic ecology like Bille, it will certainly cause enormous damage.

FRESH CRUDE OIL SPILL, FRESH CRISIS UNDERWAY

On November 15, 1999 at Well 7, Owoba flow station, a major spill occurred and large quantity of crude oil rained into the nearby environment. ERA field research / investigations revealed that the following complex and connecting river courses like Sombriero, Suwosuku, Kalabille and Bille creeks are subject to tidal regimes and the following communities were affected, like Ama, Oru-ama, Tumba-Ama, Obow-Ama, Ikiri Kama, Aguama, and kala eke-ama. Although, the faulty facility has been repaired and the affected facility cleaned but the far-flung communities affected in the path of tidal waves were not cleaned. The current spill is a major one, which even Shell admitted to the community, was caused by their facility failure and, not sabotage as they used to tell community people.

EFFECTS OF THE SPILLS

ERA findings in the area revealed that Shell facilities criss-crossed the extensive network of creeks and mangrove swamp / salt march in the area. The fishes and other aquatic organism in the area use the food-rich estuary and creeks as nursery and feeding grounds and spend their adulthood in the nearby ocean, but the oil spills have driven them away. Experts argue that oil spillages is not likely to cause any significant direct mortality to pelagic fish (Mcintyre, 1982). ERA finding revealed that some species, however, may avoid the polluted area for a few weeks. Species which spawn in the estuary may suffer mortality of egg or larvae.

...Crude oil contamination of the intertidal mangrove swamps will result in high mortalities of crabs, and certain fish, including their intertidal eggs; mudskippers, etc. The effects of spills will persist at least for several months. Polluted mangrove mud will also pollute intertidal puddles and shorelines for weeks or months, affecting the tilapia and mullet inhabiting the puddles. The residual oil will likely cause fin rot and some consequent mortality, mainly in tilapias and top minnows for up to several months. (Powell, 1987)

SHELL AS A CORPORATE CITIZEN OF BILLE

Facilities belonging to Shell occupy almost half of Bille community. The facilities are located in closed proximity to human habitation (about half a kilometer away from the community).

Despite the huge presence of Shell, Bille lacks portable water, electricity, employment, etc., though Shell's own facilities are enjoying light and water..

ERA'S RECOMMENDATION

a. Shell should under take an immediate and thorough cleaning of the impacted areas.

b. Shell should provide immediate relief materials and compensations to the community.

c. Shell should replace all old facilities there.

d. Shell should behave and operate in the Bille community as a corporate citizen.

***ACTION ALERT!!!***
Many international NGOs, have called for a boycott of all Shell products because of Shell's corporate irresponsibility in the Niger Delta. Please also write letters to Shell concerning the plight of the Bille people and about the hardships which its facilities and operations have caused the people. Please Send your Email, fax and letters of protest to the following persons listed below. A sample letter is also provided below.

Dear Sir,

I am very concerned about global sustainability and environmental quality for all of humankind. In view of this, I am demanding that Shell should clean up their pollution and stop forthwith the continuous degradation of the environment of the Niger Delta. Please repair the damage that your oil exploitations have caused, and restore the balance to the areas that your destructive operations have affected. including the mangrove forests and local communities in the Niger Delta.

Sincerely,
Your name (Optional)

Please send your letters to:

1) Shell International Petroleum Co. Ltd. Shell Centre,
London SE1 7NA, UK
Tel: 44 - 0171 934 1234.
Fax: 44 - 0171 934 8060.

2) Shell International Petroleum Mij BV, P.O. Box 162,
2501 AN, The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel: 31 70 377 9111.
Fax: 31 70 377 4848.
Email: Tell-shell@si.shell.com

3) Shell petroleum and Development company Nig. Ltd. P. M. B 2418,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: 00234 1 2601600/ 19
Fax : 00234 1 2636864.
Email:info@si.shell.com

4) Shell Oil Company,
Head Office,
P. O Box 2643,
Houston, Texas 77252 -2463,
Tel: + 1713 241 6161
Fax: + 1713 241 4044.

For more information contact:

ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ACTION / FRIENDS OF THE EARTH (FoE, Nigeria)
Email: eraction@infoweb.abs.net

OILWATCH AFRICA
Email: Oilwatch@infoweb.abs.net

Also, Email: disera@infoweb.abs.net