The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA says, Tracking and Mapping of emulsified oil from oil spill which occurred on November 15 at Total Energies’ Egina storage facility is continuing as part of the response and monitoring activities of the event.
The Director General, NOSDRA, Idris Musa in a press statement obtained by AIT said the agency received the report of the crude oil spill which occurred at TotalEnergies’ Egina floating, production, storage and offload FPSO facility as a result of export hose snap on November 15, 2023 at about 6am local time.
The FPSO is located deep offshore at a distance Of 130km from the shoreline and ultra deep water depth Of 1150m. The report is in line with extant laws and regulations.
The statement reads in part:
“Following receipt Of the report, the operator Of the FPSO immediately triggered all the required resources and commenced response activities under the effective guidance and supervision Of the Agency. The source of the spill had earlier been identified and stopped.
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The response team comprising staff Of the Agency and others carried out aerial surveillance twice daily from the onset of the incident to track the progress of response activities.
To-complement the response capabilities Of the owner Of the facility, other major oil company operators have been notified accordingly to provide response and technical support remotely in determining the extent of the spread”
The support according to NOSDRA results from the approvals from relevant government Agencies as contained in the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSO).
Representatives from the Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also provided necessary assistance to the response team from Lagos.
NOSDRA’s Director General, Idris Musa says surveillance and baseline mapping carried out in the area showed that the shoreline was clean and free from oil impact.
“The company’s vessels are following up movement of the slick and booms which have been put in place to contain and recover oil where feasible” he added.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
