Eni declares force majeure in Nigeria following attacks

June 19, 2007
Italy's Eni SPA June 19 said it declared force majeure 2 days ago at its Nigerian Ogobinbiri oil flow station after an attack by a group of militants.

Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, June 19 -- Italy's Eni SPA June 19 said it declared force majeure 2 days ago at its Nigerian Ogobinbiri oil flow station after an attack by a group of militants.

Peak production at the facility is 37,000 b/d of crude oil, with Eni's share standing at 5,500 b/d, a company spokesman said.

Unidentified gunmen occupied the oil flow station June 17, holding two dozen Nigerian workers and soldiers captive.

Eni, which did not know of any fatalities in the attack on June 17, said there were 24 Nigerian workers and 51 soldiers in the flow station. It said 8 workers and 40 soldiers were able to escape from the attackers.

The attack is the latest in a series stretching back some 18 months, with some 200 workers kidnapped during that time. The attacks have been stepped up in 2007, with more than 100 workers being kidnapped this year alone.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].