Multinational oil giant Shell has revealed its intention to withdraw from Nigeria’s onshore oil sector.
Making this known at Shell’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, the CEO, Van Beurden, said his organisation was in talks with the Nigerian government to work out how to exit its onshore licenses.
Mr Beurden explained that Niger Delta oil is no longer suitable for its business, adding that the incessant cases of oil theft and sabotage and spillage don’t fit with the organisation’s risk appetite.
“The balance of risks and rewards associated with our onshore portfolio is no longer compatible with our strategic ambitions,” Mr Beurden said. “We cannot solve community problems in the Niger Delta.”
He further disclosed that Shell proposed disengagement from Nigeria’s onshore sector will not affect its offshore operations, adding that the organisation is still very much interested in exploring the country’s deep water and natural gas.
Shell, had in the cause of its onshore operations in Nigeria, encountered numerous problems ranging from oil theft and pipeline sabotage, as well as lawsuits instituted by local communities over oil spills.
In February, Mr Buren while decrying the increasing sabotage and theft of oil in Nigeria disclosed that the multinational giant was considering sales of its onshore assets in Nigeria.
He said that growing cases of theft and sabotage in the Niger-Delta region could force the organisation to reconsider its onshore operations in Nigeria.
