Chevron Reiterates Commitment To Partnership For Sustainable Development

Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has said that it is committed to partnership with various stakeholders including the communities neighbouring its areas of operations in the Niger Delta, for sustainable development. CNL is the operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and CNL. The company affirmed that it is engaging with relevant stakeholders including the protesters at its Terminal and Escravos Gas—To-Liquid (“EGTL”) jetties, community leaders, traditional rulers, the Board of Trustees (“BOTs”) of the Warri Onshore Host Community Development Trust (“HCDT”), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (“NUPRC”), the Delta State Government, and other critical stakeholders to ensure the peaceful vacation of the protesters who have blocked access to the Terminal and EGTL jetties since November 21, 2023.   The protesters are demanding for the renaming of the Warri Kingdom Onshore Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) and involvement in the nomination of additional persons for inclusion on the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the HCDT. In addition, they are requesting for mobilization of their community workers for the EGTL Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) activities. CNL’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn reaffirms CNL’s strict compliance with applicable laws and regulations. “As a law-abiding corporate citizen, CNL is committed and continues to make progress in the operationalization of the respective HCDTs in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021. We continue to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders, including community leaders and traditional rulers towards the operationalization of the HCDTs. Also, CNL is committed to ensuring the participation of community workers in the EGTL TAM in line with the manpower mobilization plan”, he said. Esimaje stated that contrary to untrue media reports about some protesters that are allegedly missing, verifiable reports on ground indicate that none of the protesters are missing.  He reiterated CNL’s priority on the safety of the people, the environment, and assets in all its operations and noted that CNL will continue to engage the relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues amicably. “CNL advocates respect for the rule of law and use of constructive dialogue in the resolution of all issues,” he concluded.

Chevron Confirms Protests In Escravos, Terminal, Jetties

*Affirms Collaboration With Host Communities Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has confirmed ongoing protests at its terminal and Escravos Gas-To-Liquids jetties in Warri, Delta State. According to a statement by General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron, Esimaje Brikinn, the protesters are demanding for the renaming of the Warri Kingdom Onshore Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) and involvement in the nomination of additional persons for inclusion on the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the HCDT. In addition, they are requesting for mobilization of their community workers for the EGTL Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) activities. CNL confirms that at about 7am on November 21, 2023, boats conveying some protesters started patrolling along CNL’s Terminal and Escravos Gas-To-Liquids (EGTL) jetties and subsequently blocked access to Escravos Terminal (including EGTL jetty) in CNL’s Western area of operations. The company is operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The CNL spokesman insisted that the company operates in strict compliance with applicable laws and regulations. He said, “CNL is committed to the operationalization of the HCDT in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (PIA). CNL continues to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders, including Ugborodo community leaders and traditional rulers towards the operationalization of the HCDT. Also, CNL is committed to ensuring the participation of community workers for the EGTL TAM in line with the manpower mobilization plan.” He stated that CNL continues to engage with relevant stakeholders including the protesters, community leaders, traditional rulers, the BOT of the HCDT, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Delta State Government, and other critical stakeholders to ensure the peaceful vacation of the protesters from CNL’s Terminal and EGTL jetties. “CNL places the highest priority on and remains committed to the safety of people, the environment and its assets,” Esimaje noted.

CSR: Chevron Spends $100m In 23 years

The establishment of Partnership Initiatives In The Niger Delta (PIND) by Chevron has gulped over $100 million and leveraged a corresponding amount from investors and partners. In 2010, Chevron established the PIND, a non-profit organization working with partners to complement the GMoU, build peace and address the macro socio-economic issues in the Niger Delta region. The PIND’s programmes have continued to create socio-economic impact in the Niger Delta region through the twin pillars of economic development and peace building, leading to increased productivity and incomes, jobs, and reduced conflict,” said, Esimaje Brikinn, Chevron Nigeria’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs. Brikinn, in a statement during Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary, highlighted Chevron Nigeria’s focus on helping to engender the development of communities in the Niger Delta through the erstwhile Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), a community-driven, participatory partnership model for community engagement pioneered by Chevron Nigeria in 2005. “Through the GMoU, we provided funds to execute hundreds of projects in the communities where we operate in the Niger Delta region. This has led to social investment projects benefitting over 600 communities in the Niger Delta area. We will be leveraging our experience with the GMoU in the implementation of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)”, he stated. For the last 10 years, one of the Chevron Nigeria companies, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, has spent an estimated annual average of $1 billion on Nigerian suppliers and service providers. The Chairman and Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria and Mid-Africa Business unit, Rick Kennedy, said “Chevron does all this, not because it is compelled to, but because it is the right thing to do.” Brikinn further narrated that Chevron Nigeria’s social investment footprint extends beyond its areas of operation, adding, “Among other health initiatives, Chevron Nigeria built and donated a DNA Molecular laboratory to the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, and the facility is very significant to medical research in Nigeria.” In the heat of the coronavirus pandemic, Chevron Nigeria donated a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory to Warri Central Hospital to support the Delta State government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to other industry-collaborations. Chevron Nigeria has also implemented health initiatives such as the Roll Back Malaria programmes, Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and awareness programmes on River blindness, etc. In its Deep offshore operations, Chevron Nigeria has continued to implement projects and programmes in the areas of health, education, and economic development across Nigeria. Brikinn said the Star Deepwater Petroleum Company Limited (a Chevron company) and its parties in the Agbami field – Famfa Oil Limited, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Equinor Nigeria Energy Company Limited, and Prime 127 Nigeria Limited – have been investing in fighting Tuberculosis with the construction and equipment of chest clinics in Nigeria to support the treatment and care of tuberculosis patients in Nigeria.

We’ll continue to support fight against oil theft -Chevron

Oil major, Chevron Nigeria Limited, has said that it would not relent in the continued support of the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger delta region. General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron, Esimaje Brikinn, in a statement on Saturday insisted that over the years, it has been in the vanguard of the fight to curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the oil rich region. CNL is the operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL/CNL JV). According to Esimaje, to therefore blame the company for incidences of oil theft and pipeline vandalism is not only untrue but also without basis. “Chevron Nigeria Limited is aware of a report in one of the online media platforms blaming international oil companies (IOCs), communities and other stakeholders for the oil theft that has hindered the growth of the oil industry. “Chevron and another IOC were specifically mentioned in the report allegedly attributed to the Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up to investigate crude oil theft. “CNL refutes this assertion as it is untrue, incorrect, and made without any basis. CNL reiterates its commitment to supporting the collaborative efforts to prevent oil theft and pipeline vandalism in its area of operation. “CNL affirms illegal bunkering and oil theft in the Niger Delta region has negatively impacted CNL’s operation and has devastating effects on the nation’s economy and the environment in the Niger Delta region. CNL continues to monitor the environment in its areas of operations and report any suspected illegal activity and breaches to the relevant Government Security Forces and regulatory agencies. “CNL has helped in reducing pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta region by collaborating with communities around the areas of the company’s operations to set up the Community Pipeline and Facilities Surveillance Programme (CPFSP) in 2005. Through the CPFSP, CNL continues to tackle the challenge of oil theft and pipeline vandalism and engage the community youth in pipeline surveillance to reduce oil theft in CNL’s area of operation. CNL also deploys security surveillance equipment and other technologies in addition to physical water-borne patrols by the CPFSP and the government security forces,” the company said. He noted that CNL’s commitment to working with government agencies and others to prevent oil theft and its impact on the environment was recently commended by the Special Investigation Panel on Oil Theft/Losses in Nigeria set up by the Federal Government during their visit to CNL’s operations. “CNL is committed to the highest ethical standards and business principles. CNL operates as a responsible company and conducts its business in full compliance with the law and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. CNL will continue to work with the Nigerian government towards the development of the oil and gas industry and the Nigerian economy generally,” he added.