Yemisi Izuora/Agency Report
Oil giant, Shell, has begun negotiations with local oil producers for selling two of its Nigerian oil licences in the Niger Delta, collectively worth $2 billion.
The Anglo-Dutch petrochemical giant is in talks about selling its oil mining licenses 11 and 17, reports confirmed.
Sources close to the matter revealed that the deal would involve selling essential infrastructure assets as well, including a natural gas-fired power plant that will be managed by Nigerian economist, Tony Elumelu’s company, Transactional Corporation of Nigeria PLC (Transcorp).
They further disclosed that initially, talks between Shell and the local buyers were at an advanced stage, but faced complications due to lack of financing. As per records, the oil mining licence 17 falls within oil corporation NNPC/Shell joint venture and includes 15 oil and gas fields, out of which six are actively producing oil at the moment.
Oil mining licence 11 is one of the biggest blocks in southeast part of Niger Delta and has 33 oil and gas fields, eight of which were producing as of 2017. The Federal Government had supposedly divided the block into three portions in April, offering one to Shell after it confirmed renewal of its production licence.
Reports unveiled that incidents such as local oppositions, militant activities, civil conflict, and allegations of environmental pollution, had shrouded the company in controversies and exiting the two oil blocks may reduce Shell’s exposure in Nigeria.
Post the sale, Shell will be able to focus on its deepwater operations where the frequency of theft and threat of attacks on infrastructure are quite low. Shell’s origin in Nigeria dates to 1936 when Shell D’Arcy was founded, the group’s first company in the nation.
In 1938, it was granted an exploration licence and in 1950, after discovering oil in the region, Shell became one of the biggest producers in West Africa. Related Shell to sell two oil assets for $2bn in Nigeria July 24, 2018 Etete, ENI, Shell go on trial over Nigeria’s Malabu kickback scandal March 5, 2018
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) today agreed to transfer its interest in three production licences and related equipment in the Niger Delta to a consortium led by two Nigerian companies, adding however that the transfer was subject to government approval. January 30, 2010.