(Ecofin Agency) - The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has lifted the force majeure on export of Bonny Light eleven months after it was declared.

The force majeure was lifted after repairs were completed on the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) by Aiteo E&P Company Limited. The 100km NCTL which has a capacity of 600, 000bpd feeds the Bonny export terminal in Rivers State. “The force majeure on Bonny Light exports was lifted effective 12:00hrs (Nigerian time) on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 after the repair of the sabotage leak,” Shell Spokesman, Bamidele Odugbesan, confirmed.

This new development will further improve efforts to recover crude production weakened by the militancy in Nigeria’s Niger Delta oil hub and boost export of the Bonny grade which is expected to reach 226,000bpd in August, an increase from the 164,000bpd in July, according to loading programmes.

Let’s recall that earlier this month, Shell also lifted force majeure on exports of the Forcados crude grade which has been placed since February 2016, due to militant attacks on the main export route, the Trans Forcados Pipeline. Forcados exports 200,000 to 240,000 barrels of crude per day.

Anita Fatunji