SHELL DECLARES FORCE MAJEURE AT BONNY TERMINAL

UNCLAS LAGOS 002560 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/BLEVINE STATE FOR DS/IP/AF STATE FOR INR/AA STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENANDER STATE PASS DOC PHUEPER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION MARAD STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ STATE PASS EX-IM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS OPIC FOR CDUFFY STATE PASS TDA FOR BTERNET E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EPET EINV NI ENERG SUBJECT: SHELL DECLARES FORCE MAJEURE AT BONNY TERMINAL REF: A) LAGOS 1978 B) LAGOS 2446 ¶1. (U) Shell Head of Media and Communications Bisi Ojediran confirmed to us that Shell has declared force majeure at Bonny Terminal, due to community disruptions in the eastern Niger Delta in Ekulama and Egbema. Ojediran also confirmed press reports that about 114,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Nigerian Bonny Light crude would be halted -- 70,000 bpd from Ekulama and 44,000 bpd at Egbema. Ojediran indicated the communities have not made physical threats against Shell or its workers, and on-going discussions with the community have been peaceful, but slow with little progress. As per reftels, the dispute between Shell and community members in Ekulama has been on-going, and has caused previous supply disruptions in the past few months. BROWNE