Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) reported an oil spill on Tuesday at its facility in Ogale, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after a saver pit overflowed during flushing operations in the Niger Delta region. The oil major confirmed that its spill response team swiftly contained the overflow and notified relevant authorities. A Shell spokesperson stated that arrangements are underway for a regulator-led joint visit to assess the cause and impact of the spill.

According to the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), the spill occurred when an underground pit filled with crude oil began flowing into a pipeline that separates an area of the Ogoni cleanup project. This incident adds to the long history of oil spills in the Niger Delta, which have caused severe environmental damage, destroyed livelihoods, and impacted the health of millions in local communities.

This is not the first oil spill incident involving Shell in recent months. On December 14, 2024, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) reported an oil spill at Shell’s loading terminal in Bonny, Rivers State. Shell responded by shutting down the affected pipeline and deploying containment booms to protect nearby communities. Earlier, on August 14, 2024, another spill occurred at an SPDC facility in Imiringi, Bayelsa State, which Shell attributed to oil theft.

The latest spill has reignited concerns about the environmental and social impact of oil operations in the Niger Delta, with calls for stricter oversight and accountability from oil companies operating in the region.