Adebayo Adenrele
Shell, a british oil industry company is set to conclude nearly 100 years of operations in Nigerian onshore oil and gas after agreeing to sell its subsidiary to a consortium of five mostly local companies for up to $2.4 billion.
Shell, which is the pionner of oil and gas business in Nigeria, has struggled for years with hundreds of onshore oil spills as a result of theft, sabotage and operational issues that led to costly repairs and high-profile lawsuits.
Since 2021, Shell has sought to sell its Nigerian oil and gas business, but will remain active in Nigeria’s more lucrative and less problematic offshore sector.
Shell’s exit is part of a broader retreat by western energy companies from Nigeria as they focus on newer, more profitable operations.
The British major will sell The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) for a consideration of $1.3 billion, it said in a statement, while the buyers will make an additional payment of up to $1.1 billion relating to prior receivables at completion.
“This agreement marks an important milestone for Shell in Nigeria, aligning with our previously announced intent to exit onshore oil production in the Niger Delta, simplifying our portfolio and focusing future disciplined investment in Nigeria on our Deepwater and Integrated Gas positions,” Shell head of upstream, Zoë Yujnovich said.
The buyer, the Renaissance consortium comprises ND Western, Aradel Energy, First E&P, Waltersmith, all local oil exploration and production companies, and Petrolin, a Swiss-based trading and investment company.
The sale, which Renaissance confirmed, requires the approval of the Nigerian government.
Renaissance will take over the responsibility for dealing with spills, theft and sabotage, said Shell, which has faced in recent years multiple lawsuits for compensation over damage caused as a result of spills in the Niger delta.
Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Nigerian advocacy group Health of Mother Earth Foundation said: “Shell must own up to its responsibility.”
