Shell lifts force majeure on Bonny Light crude exports

Shell has lifted force majeure on crude exports from Nigeria's Bonny Light terminal following repairs to a leaking pipeline.

The firm declared force majeure on 25 October following a leak on the 150,000 b/d Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL), one of two pipelines that feeds crude to the Bonny Light terminal. NCTL operator Aiteo said repair work has been completed and pipeline operations have resumed, enabling Shell to lift force majeure on 22 November.

Bonny Light exports had been scheduled at 153,000 b/d this month, but no cargoes have loaded from the terminal since the Agios Sostis I departed for Singapore on 24 October, according to Vortexa data. Three Bonny Light shipments are pencilled in for December and three more in January, although traders say Shell is likely to revise next month's programme.

Operational issues have hampered Nigerian crude production throughout the second half of this year, with disruption at several other terminals including Qua Iboe, Forcados, Erha and Brass River. The problems have left Nigeria falling short of its Opec+ production ceiling in recent months, although state-owned NNPC's manager director Mele Kyari has said output should be at quota levels by the end of the year.

By Andy Devine and Ruxandra Iordache