Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) has condemned the incessant interferences with oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta by criminal elements.
The company, which is the Operator of Delta State-based OML 30 Joint Venture between NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited (SNRL), is not alone in this complaint about frequent breaching of their pipelines in the Niger Delta.
Sola Adebawo, Heritage Energy’s General Manager Government, Joint Venture and External Relations, in a reaction to media enquiries over an allegation of a June 2023 spill at Uzere, explained that third-party infractions were causing untold hardship to the people and oil & gas Companies.
“Over the past three years, we have recorded several spill incidents caused by third party infraction in our Uzere location, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State,” he said.
According to him, the June 15, 2023 spill was one of the third-party induced spills.This was confirmed by a farmer, Prince Owohoro who said; “When the spill occurred, the management of Heritage Energy Operational Services with some representatives of our community carried out a joint investigation visit (JIV) and it was discovered that the 16-inch Uzere-Eriemu delivery pipeline was vandalized by third party infraction.”
Adebawo explained that contrary to the alleged claim of negligence raised by some members of the Uzere community, a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) was carried out immediately with the participation of relevant stakeholders and the outcome was fully signed by all parties in line with regulatory requirements.
“Clean-up and recovery commenced immediately. As a responsible operator, any spill sighted in our area of operation is immediately addressed by way of clean-up regardless of the cause or the source of spill, Uzere spills were not left out of this standard operating process,” he said.
However, some members of Uzere community have complained that they are still being impacted by the aftermath of the spill.
Mr Adebawo, in all of these, maintained that the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) remains unwavering.
“At HEOSL, we strive to understand and manage the sensitivities of the environment in which we operate as well as our responsibilities to them, throughout the lifecycle of our operations.
“We have specific requirements and recommendations governing how we identify and manage the potentially damaging environmental and social impacts/risks of all our projects,” he noted.
Mr. Adebawo further emphasized that despite the seasonal swampy terrain of Uzere community, the company defied the constraint and commenced the clean-up activity which was monitored by regulators.
“From a follow-up visit to the 15th of June 2023 spill site on 19th of March 2024, there was no visible or free phase hydrocarbon sited during the visit that will pose further threat to the environment or cause further spread of hydrocarbon to other communities.
“Our plan, as a company, is to further carry out soil remediation works across surface impacted areas soon. In terms of spill percolation, the site is predominantly of clay characteristics, making it difficult for deep percolation across most of the impacted surfaces,” he explained.
Meanwhile, our investigation revealed that the company mobilised some contractors to site for further remediation recently, but the contractors were chased away by some community youths.The company’s spokesman further reveals that HEOSL is a responsible member of the OML 30 communities where it operates and the Country at large.
“A total of 13 projects were awarded to Contractors from Uzere as part of the GMoU projects in the Uzere community. These projects, worth over N356.5 million (Three Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira), include: seven culverts and two water channelisation projects; sand filling of Ovie of Uzere Palace and three (3) electrification projects.
“There is also a gas-powered independent Power Project for the electrification of Uzere community currently on-going with a commitment to supply gas from our flow station.
“Additionally, 24 undergraduates from Uzere benefitted from the Student Industrial Work Experience (SIWES) programme at OML 30, while 71 individuals comprising of both women and youths, benefitted from the OML 30 skills acquisition training and received business starter packs to generate income from skills application based on their respective fields of trade.
“The OML 30 Asset has also provided 68 scholarship opportunities (16 tertiary category beneficiaries and 48 secondary) to scholars from Uzere community from 2017 till date,” he disclosed.
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