Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10LAGOS17
2010-01-11 16:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
CHEVRON MAKARABA PIPELINE SABOTAGED
how-toVZCZCXRO4958 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0017 0111657 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111657Z JAN 10 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1173 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0718 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0824 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0672 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0084 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000017
SIPDIS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
AFRICOM FOR CGAY
TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL, RABDULRAZAK
STATE PASS USTR FOR LISER, AGAMA
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS
STATE PASS TDA FOR EEBONG, DSHUSTER
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
USDOC FOR 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2020
TAGS: EPET ECON EFIN EINV PGOV NI
SUBJECT: CHEVRON MAKARABA PIPELINE SABOTAGED
REF: A. 10 LAGOS 10
Classified By: CG D. Blair for reasons 1.4 (b & d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000017
SIPDIS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
AFRICOM FOR CGAY
TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL, RABDULRAZAK
STATE PASS USTR FOR LISER, AGAMA
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS
STATE PASS TDA FOR EEBONG, DSHUSTER
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
USDOC FOR 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2020
TAGS: EPET ECON EFIN EINV PGOV NI
SUBJECT: CHEVRON MAKARABA PIPELINE SABOTAGED
REF: A. 10 LAGOS 10
Classified By: CG D. Blair for reasons 1.4 (b & d)
1. (C) On January 8 Chevron's Makaraba pipeline in Delta
State was sabotaged. The pipeline has supplied the Escravos
terminal with 20,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). Hercules
Manager Coleman McDonough says it is not clear if the
pipeline was in production or not at the time of the
incident. (NOTE: Sheriff Mulade, President of the Gbaramatu
Youth Council, claims the pipeline was functioning at the
time it was hit. END NOTE.) Chevron Managing Director
Andrew Fawthrop stated on January 9 that this was the result
of sabotage but that it was not an act of militancy. The AFP
reported on January 11 that the militant group MEND was
taking responsibility for the attack, although BusinessDay
reported that MEND only sanctioned the attack and did not
have any fighters involved. (NOTE: MEND also claimed
responsibility for a rumored attack that never happened on
December 19. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Fawthrop told Lagos CG and Econoff that the January 4
shootings at the Chevron facility involved
Ijaw security personnel firing at Ijaw workers (reftel). Two
bullets killed two Ijaws and injured an additional two Ijaws.
The subsequent pipeline damage was seen as a retaliatory
action by the Ijaw community against Chevron. (NOTE: Mulade
says the security forces involved in the incident January 4
were the Military Joint Task Force (JTF) personnel seconded
to Chevron for protection. END NOTE.)
3. (C) President of the Ijaw Youth Council Dr. Chris Ekiyor
stated on January 11 that the Chevron location had been
having problems between the workers and the contractor for
some time. The workers took up the issue with Chevron
directly after becoming frustrated with the lack of progress
with the contractor. Ekiyor claims that both his
organization and former militant leader Tom Polo became
involved in trying to pacify the workers stating, "We have
this peace, we need to keep this peace." Ekiyor expressed
deep concern that the situation could get out of hand and
re-ignite violence in the Delta. Ekiyor called for a
roundtable and more dialogue between Chevron, the contractor
and the workers.
4. (C) Both Ekiyor and Mulade, in speaking to Poloff on
January 11, argued that Chevron needs to have better control
of its security forces. "If you are hiring security forces,
you should tell them the rules of engagement," Ekiyor said,
claiming that Chevron has given their security a "blank
check." This has resulted in the Nigerian Chevron security
officer taking a hard line to protect the Chevron facility,
he postulated. Mulade concurred with this assessment, saying
that the actions of the JTF on January 4 were "uncalled for"
and endangered peace in the region.
BLAIR
SIPDIS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
AFRICOM FOR CGAY
TREASURY FOR DPETERS, RHALL, RABDULRAZAK
STATE PASS USTR FOR LISER, AGAMA
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS
STATE PASS TDA FOR EEBONG, DSHUSTER
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN
USDOC FOR 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2020
TAGS: EPET ECON EFIN EINV PGOV NI
SUBJECT: CHEVRON MAKARABA PIPELINE SABOTAGED
REF: A. 10 LAGOS 10
Classified By: CG D. Blair for reasons 1.4 (b & d)
1. (C) On January 8 Chevron's Makaraba pipeline in Delta
State was sabotaged. The pipeline has supplied the Escravos
terminal with 20,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). Hercules
Manager Coleman McDonough says it is not clear if the
pipeline was in production or not at the time of the
incident. (NOTE: Sheriff Mulade, President of the Gbaramatu
Youth Council, claims the pipeline was functioning at the
time it was hit. END NOTE.) Chevron Managing Director
Andrew Fawthrop stated on January 9 that this was the result
of sabotage but that it was not an act of militancy. The AFP
reported on January 11 that the militant group MEND was
taking responsibility for the attack, although BusinessDay
reported that MEND only sanctioned the attack and did not
have any fighters involved. (NOTE: MEND also claimed
responsibility for a rumored attack that never happened on
December 19. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Fawthrop told Lagos CG and Econoff that the January 4
shootings at the Chevron facility involved
Ijaw security personnel firing at Ijaw workers (reftel). Two
bullets killed two Ijaws and injured an additional two Ijaws.
The subsequent pipeline damage was seen as a retaliatory
action by the Ijaw community against Chevron. (NOTE: Mulade
says the security forces involved in the incident January 4
were the Military Joint Task Force (JTF) personnel seconded
to Chevron for protection. END NOTE.)
3. (C) President of the Ijaw Youth Council Dr. Chris Ekiyor
stated on January 11 that the Chevron location had been
having problems between the workers and the contractor for
some time. The workers took up the issue with Chevron
directly after becoming frustrated with the lack of progress
with the contractor. Ekiyor claims that both his
organization and former militant leader Tom Polo became
involved in trying to pacify the workers stating, "We have
this peace, we need to keep this peace." Ekiyor expressed
deep concern that the situation could get out of hand and
re-ignite violence in the Delta. Ekiyor called for a
roundtable and more dialogue between Chevron, the contractor
and the workers.
4. (C) Both Ekiyor and Mulade, in speaking to Poloff on
January 11, argued that Chevron needs to have better control
of its security forces. "If you are hiring security forces,
you should tell them the rules of engagement," Ekiyor said,
claiming that Chevron has given their security a "blank
check." This has resulted in the Nigerian Chevron security
officer taking a hard line to protect the Chevron facility,
he postulated. Mulade concurred with this assessment, saying
that the actions of the JTF on January 4 were "uncalled for"
and endangered peace in the region.
BLAIR