The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) reported a significant loss of about 3,000 barrels of crude oil following the oil spill on November 15 from the offshore Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel operated by TotalEnergies.
The FPSO, situated 130 kilometres off the Atlantic coastline from Port Harcourt, with a daily production capacity of 200,000 barrels of crude oil and onboard storage capacity of 2.3 million barrels, suffered the spill, prompting NOSDRA’s intervention.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, NOSDRA Director-General Idris Musa emphasized that the ongoing clean-up efforts were crucial in mitigating the spill’s impact on the environment. He noted that thanks to the joint efforts of NOSDRA and TotalEnergies, the spilled crude was prevented from reaching the coastline.
Mr. Musa further explained that NOSDRA’s swift response to the spill, which involved deploying high-level personnel and activating the National Oil Spills Contingency Plan, played a pivotal role in containing the spill and minimizing its impact.
“The spill was not a minor one; it was the response strategy put in place that resulted in limited impact, and we have been tracing and tracking the oil slick and supervising response efforts,” he added confidently.
Highlighting the collaborative efforts, Mr. Musa commended TotalEnergies for their proactive approach, which significantly contributed to the swift and effective response. He also acknowledged the support received from other oil companies in managing the spill.
