BELEMA Oil Producing Limited have been asked to submit an operational modalities, which would involve its corporate social responsibility (CSR) for Ogoni people, where the indigenous oil company had received an overwhelming approval to commence oil production.
This is as a follow-up to their earlier promise to finally replace the Royal Anglo Dutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) from ever producing crude oil in Ogoniland, where it was forced out 22 years ago, chiefs of the Ogoni oil producing communities and stakeholders weekend held a meeting in which it emerged that the incoming oil company.
Earlier last week, traditional rulers of Ogoni oil producing communities, stakeholders and Ogoni umbrella body, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) met and approved BELEMA Oil Producing Limited as a valid replacement for Shell.
At the Saturday meeting, which held at Bori in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, presided by MOSOP president, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, had the chiefs of Ogoni oil communities, religious and youth leaders in attendance.
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The attendees appraised several issues involving Ogonis position in resumption of oil production in their area; implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report of 2011 and the people’s participation in the 2015 general elections.
Donald Gberesuu, the paramount ruler of Kegbara Dere, the community with the highest oil wells in Ogoni, told BusinessDay in Bori that the traditional rulers of Ogoni oil producing communities rose in unison in endorsing BELEMA Oil Producing Limited; stating that their approval of the indigenous oil company stemmed from their belief that “the company will deal rightly with the people.”
He enjoined the MOSOP leadership and the people to ensure that the chiefs are consulted about their decision, as multi-stakeholders consultation was made with their subjects and decisions reached, before taking their position on BELEMA.
Meanwhile, speaking on a matter that another oil company, Harmonia Chinese Partners, had also been approved to operate in Ogoni land, the MOSOP president, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara said, although MOSOP was not against the resumption of oil production in Ogoni land, but stated that the leadership would not encourage any attempt to divide Ogonis on the premise of resumption of oil production in Ogoni.
Pyagbara said that “any oil company interested in Ogoni must submit a document plan of what it (company) has in stock for the people; and the role it would play in the implementation of the UNEP report.”
Before its forced exit from Ogoni land, after about 30 years of operation, Shell was said to have been producing some 90,000 barrels oil per day from oil fields in six Ogoni communities of Bodo, Bomu, Korokoro West, Yorla, Ebubu, and Tai.
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