One of the most influential leaders from the Niger Delta has vowed to continue his struggle to keep more oil wealth in the region, following his release from prison on bail. Mujahid Dokubo-Asari was freed yesterday on health grounds after being held on treason charges for almost two years.
African Oil
Nigerian Military Kill Eight
Nigerian troops have killed eight suspected militants near an Italian-operated oil field in the Niger Delta. The killings happened in Bayelsa state on Tuesday just after militant groups released 19 hostages as part of a nascent peace initiative between the government and the rebel groups.
Coping with Climate Change in the Niger Delta:
Nigeria’s Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC) has released a study on the impacts of climate change in the Niger Delta and the adaptation strategies that the people of the Niger Delta are using to deal with growing problems.
Ogoni Protest Forces Pipeline to be Shut Down
A protest by Ogoni villagers at a major oil export pipeline complex in Nigeria has entered its fourth day. Villagers from K-Dere occupied the pipeline hub at Bomu, which feeds the Bonny shipping terminal, and forced Shell to shut 150 000 barrels per day of output.
BP Secures $900m Libyan Gas Deal
BP has secured a $900m (ÂŁ455m) gas exploration deal with Libya, in a sign of Tripoli’s transformation from pariah to attractive investment destination for UK and US companies. Tony Hayward, BP’s new chief executive, described the agreement as the group’s “single biggest exploration commitment”. The deal coincides with a visit to Tripoli by Tony Blair, … Read More
Nigerian Oil Unions Begin Strike
The already jittery oil price has risen even further after Nigeria’s powerful oil unions began a strike yesterday at the state-owned oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company as well as the Petroleum Ministry. They are also threatening to target exports in hopes of reversing the sale of government refineries. The unions allege outgoing President … Read More
Sudan Cautions China Over Oil Investments
A Sudanese central bank official has warned China that oil investments could exacerbate conflicts in Sudan unless it pressed the government to engage local populations and share revenues. He also draw parallels with the conflict in the Niger Delta. China, which buys much of Sudan’s oil, has been under fire internationally for doing business with … Read More
Nigeria Oil Auction Fails to Raise Interest
Nigeria’s outgoing government has failed to raise interest from major oil companies in its latest oil license auction, with industry executives fearful of contracts being revoked after the government’s new government swears in. Last Friday’s auction, where only 18 of 45 blocks offered were auctioned off, was the third of its kind since 2005.
Dems Point to Chinese Oil Grab, Ignore Their Own
It turns out the Democrats latest War Supplemental does contain language that takes on the oil industry – only its Sudan they’re concerned about, not Iraq. According to UPI, a provision in the Bill “mandates that the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in consultation with the departments … Read More
MEND Blows Up Three Pipelines
The violence in the Niger Delta is escalating. Fighters from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) today claimed to have destroyed three major oil pipelines in the region. MEND said the Italian oil firm Agip’s Brass terminal, which normally exports about 200,000 barrels per day (bpd), had been affected by the … Read More