Nigerian group renews threat to oil flow

Nigerian oil production came under renewed threat on the 3^rd November when a militant group cancelled a ceasefire in effect this year and warned of a “brutish, brutal, and bloody” campaign against oil companies.

The Niger Delta Avengers website called the suspension of hostilities it announced in August 2016 but did not put into effect until about January “officially over.”

The group’s attacks on pipelines and other oil installations cut Nigerian crude oil production to about one million b/d from 1.65 million when they began earlier in the year.

According to the International Energy Agency, Nigerian production recently reached 1.66 million b/d.

The militant group demands increased distribution of wealth from oil production to Nigerians in the Niger Delta region.

In its announcement about ending the ceasefire, it specifically targeted the floating production, storage, and offloading vessel to be installed in 1,400-1,700 metres of water on Engina oil field operated by Total 130 kilometres offshore.

And in a “message to the oil companies,” the group warned: “Our next line of operation will not be like the 2016 campaign, which we operated successfully without any casualties. This outing will be brutish, brutal, and bloody as we shall crush everything we meet on our path to completely put off the fires which burn to flair gas in our communities and cut every pipe which moves crude away from our region.”