OCCUPATION OF CHEVRON ROBERT-KIRI FACILITY ENDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 002456 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR CA/OCS/FROBINSON STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/BLEVINE STATE FOR DS/IP/AF STAT FOR INR/AA STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER STATE PASS DOC PHUPER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2009 TAGS: ASEC CASC EPET MOPS PGOV NI SUBJECT: OCCUPATION OF CHEVRON ROBERT-KIRI FACILITY ENDS PEACEFULLY REF: A) LAGOS 2446 B) LAGOS 2451 Classified By: Classified by Consul General Brian Browne per 1.4 d and e Occupiers Depart Chevron Facility without Incident -------------- -------------- ¶1. (U) Chevron Texaco (CT) officials informed the Consulate that the townspeople occupying the Robert-kiri facility in Rivers State departed peacefully this morning at 11:35 a.m (local). CT officials will meet with community leaders and Rivers State government officials tomorrow in Port Harcourt to discuss the possibility of entering a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the relationship between the community and the oil company. CT is currently working to restore oil production at the facility. (Note: The flowstation normally produces 10,000 - 20,000 barrels per day. End Note.) Enhancing Facility Security Remains Challenging -------------- --- ¶2. (C) CT officials told Consul General they will also examine ways to enhance security at the Robert-kiri facility to prevent future such incidents. They noted, however, that this may be difficult, as the flow station is on a canal, and has no static perimeter barriers. Amcit Safe -------------- ¶3. (C) The lone amcit remains at the facility to participate in the company's efforts to restore production. Consul General to Travel to Port Harcourt -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Consul General will travel to Port Harcourt tomorrow for separate talks with the Deputy Governor (Governor Odili is out of the country) as well as with, Port-Harcourt based officials from Chevron and several oil service companies. BROWNE