By John Ikani
Shell on Monday announced that exports of Nigeria’s Forcados crude oil grade restarted on Sunday.
The resumption comes approximately a month following the pause in loadings of this medium sweet grade. The suspension was enacted due to concerns about a potential leak at the export terminal.
According to sources familiar with the matter, exports of this grade, originally planned to reach 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July, were stopped on the evening of July 12.
The halt occurred after workers observed fumes near a single buoy mooring, which is the facility used for loading oil onto vessels offshore.
A single buoy mooring functions as a floating loading dock for large tankers, enabling them to anchor offshore for unloading.
Shell confirmed the reduction of injections into the terminal following the incident, without declaring force majeure.
The company stated that the reason for the suspension would be determined through a collaborative inquiry involving both company and community representatives, working alongside government agencies.
The suspension of Forcados crude loadings played a role in Nigeria’s position as the second-largest contributor to the decline in OPEC crude oil output during July, based on findings from a Reuters survey.
