US embassy cable - 04LAGOS2446

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 002446 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR CA/OCS/FROBINSON 
STATE FOR EB/ESC/IEC/ENR/BLEVINE 
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
STATE PASS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAY 
STATE PASS TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENENDER 
STATE PASS DOC PHUPER 
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2009 
TAGS: EPET, CASC, PGOV, MOPS, NI 
SUBJECT: CHEVRON AND SHELL STATIONS OCCUPIED; ONE AMCIT HELD 
 
REF: LAGOS 1978 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (D & E) 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  (C)  Chevron Texaco (CT) Nigeria confirmed that local 
community members occupied the Robert-kiri flow station near 
Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 5 December.  Thirty CT 
employees, including one Amcit, are being held at the 
facility.  A CT delegation, accompanied by State Assembly 
members, is en route to Robert-kiri to negotiate with the 
villagers.  CT has ceased production of between 10,000 - 
20,000 barrels/day at the facility. Shell also confirmed that 
local villagers occupied the Ekulama I and II flow stations, 
near Kula in Rivers state, on 5 December.  The villagers have 
now departed the Shell facilities, and there were no 
injuries.  The Italian Embassy told Embassy Abuja there was 
an unsuccessful attempt to take over an AGIP facility on 
December 3. 
 
Chevron Texaco Station Remains Occupied; One Amcit Held 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
2.  (C)  Chevron Texaco (CT) External Affairs Director Femi 
Odumabo confirmed local community members have been occupying 
the Robert-kiri facility near Port Harcourt since 5 December. 
 At this writing, Odumabo and a delegation from the Rivers 
State Assembly are en route to negotiate with the 
townspeople.  CT Environmental, Safety and Health (ESH) 
Manager reported approximately thirty CT employees, including 
one Amcit, are being held by the community members.  CT has 
moved to security code 4 at a number of its facilities in the 
area.  (Chevron operates under a 5-tier security system; at 
level 5, the company completely withdraws from an area.)  The 
number of community members occupying the facility has 
fluctuated from the approximately 300 villagers who initially 
took over on Sunday morning to as few as 25; currently over 
one hundred villagers appear to be participating.  The locals 
have been reticent to voice many specific demands.  A Chevron 
official told us the only demand has been to speak with 
President Obasanjo.  Chevron Texaco has shut down production 
at the flow station, because the production activities could 
endanger the villagers, including children, currently 
occupying the facility.  The flow station's capacity is 
modest, between 10,000 - 20,000 barrels/day. 
 
Occupation of 2 Shell Stations Resolved Peacefully 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
3.  (C)  In a nearby incident, Shell Security Coordinator 
Mike Achu confirmed local villagers occupied the Ekulama I 
and II flow stations, near Kula in Rivers state, for a day 
beginning on 5 December.  (Note: As per reftel, on 24 
September, Shell evacuated approximately 200 personnel from 
the Ekulama and Soku facilities when militants killed two 
Shell Nigerian boat crew members and disarmed six mobile 
police in Soku.)  Achu said the villagers left the stations, 
and there were no injuries.  A planned intervention by the 
state security forces was aborted when the occupation was 
peacefully resolved.  Approximately 80,000 barrels of 
production were lost as a result of the occupation.  Achu 
said production would be restored shortly.  Achu reported no 
information involving Americans or other expatriates, noting 
that these flow stations were typically staffed by Nigerians. 
 
BROWNE