Environmental issues in the Niger Delta
The oil spill in the Niger Delta is an oil spill, in which experts estimate that more than two million tons of crude oil have polluted in the past 50 years, the ecosystem of the Niger Delta. According to the government, for example, pipelines and drilling rigs running in recent years an average of 300 times a year on oil. Compared to the rest of the country, the life expectancy of people living there 30 million people fell through the pollution of air, water and soil by about ten years. The pollution, which are important livelihoods (agricultural land used for fishing waters) destroyed the population also contributes to the violent conflicts in the region.
According to a study published in August 2011 study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP ) environmental contamination is so severe that take a rehabilitation of the affected region 25 to 30 years to complete and will incur costs of up to $ 1 billion. UNEP suggested that the Nigerian government and the oil companies responsible to provide the funds in a special fund.
Causes
More than 7,000 miles to part completely obsolete oil pipelines crisscross the Niger Delta. Due to many leaks and frequent oil thefts runs almost continuously from oil. The Shell Group blames sabotage and organized oil theft for the pollution; Environmentalists, however, see the bursting of heads and leaking pipelines, ie lack of safety standards by companies such as Shell, as the main cause.
Oil Spills
2008 flocked in Bodo Creek through a leak in an oil pipeline company Shell oil. Shell estimated the amount of 1,640 barrels, which commissioned by Amnesty International with the investigation of the incident U.S. companies Accufacts came to the conclusion that at least 72 days long up to 4,320 barrels of oil per day contaminated waters.
The residents of the village of Bodo in Ogoniland brought before a British court because of the emergence of several hundred thousand liters of oil in their region in the years 2008 and 2009 action against the Shell Group. In August 2011, this had there admitted that a "failure of the equipment " have caused this pollution: He was willing to pay compensation. The mourners want to civilly reach the payment of more than $ 100 million.
From an oil pipeline a joint venture oil company ExxonMobil and the Nigerian state came in June 2010 for seven days from oil. Approximately 27000-95500 tons of crude oil were released.