Nigeria LNG繼續出口天然氣

Nigeria LNG is continuing to produce and load cargoes for export, despite the forces majeures (FM)declared by Shell last week on most of its feed gas to the facility, as well as later also on its Bonny Light oil export terminal.FM is a legal clause that allows an oil firm to stop supplies or shipments on specified grounds without being penalised.No further statement was available from Shell, but a source indicated that the leak is still under investigation and that the FM will reduce the number of cargoes that NLNG exports and represents a setback for the country’s industry.

Separately, it was reported mid-August that manning levels and wage scales for officers on LNG vessels owned by Bonny Gas Transport will be reduced, as from September 1. The decision, according to NLNG, is to “minimize need for staff layoffs or retrenchment”, as has been the case in several companies in the industry in response to the steep decline in revenues.Oil and gas pipeline leaks seem to be on the rise in Nigeria. When SPDC declared FM on Bonny Light oil exports this May, it led to a 400,000 barrels/day loss in Nigeria’s petroleum production; that FM was rescinded in July only to be reimposed on August 12. Shell’s other oil export terminal, Forcados, has been subject to FM since February.