(Ecofin Agency) - Royal Dutch Shell has recommenced the export of crude oil from the Forcados terminal in Niger Delta following its restoration, the Nigerian government revealed.

“The Shell Director, Mr. Andrew Brown (photo), informed the President of the resumption of oil exportation through the Forcados terminal following its restoration. Brown commended the anti-corruption posture of the Buhari administration as well as the efforts to streamline and stabilize the economy for long term projects, saying all the efforts will go a long way to reinforce Shell investment plans in Nigeria,” President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement.

Aside the impact of the low oil prices in the global market, Nigeria’s energy facilities have been affected due to attacks by militants demanding for a greater share of the country's oil wealth. These incessant attacks have affected pipelines putting the Qua Iboe, Nigeria's largest export stream, and Forcados under force majeure. Shell declared a force majeure on Forcados crude since a militant attack on the subsea pipeline in February.

Exports from the terminal were between 250,000 and 300,000 barrels per day before the attack by the Niger Delta Avengers, Reuters reports.

The Nigerian oil ministry had earlier said that the country’s oil output had risen to 1.9 million bpd, from the previously reported 1.4 million bpd. The OPEC member is expecting oil production rate to increase by 22% to 2.2 million barrels per day by the end of 2016.

Anita Fatunji