The Elcrest Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited says it has presented various relief items to communities in Gbetiokun, Delta, to ameliorate effects of an oil spill from MT Harcourt.
MT Harcourt is a mother vessel used by the joint venture (JV) to store produced crude oil before export.
In a statement issued on Monday, the company said the donations, which were a combination of cash and materials, formed part of its social citizenship covenant with host communities.
It added that the distribution was in collaboration with the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), operator of the OML 40 JV.
Ewoma Agba, Elcrest’s community relations coordinator, explained that the donation was consistent with the company’s corporate social responsibility commitment to positively impacting host communities and the environment.
“We have noticed with uttermost dismay the impact the spillage brought to Gbetiokun. The Joint Venture, being a reputable organisation, is responsible and responsive to the plights of the community where it operates,” Agba said.
He expressed the company’s empathy towards communities’ plights, confirming that the oil spill affected vegetation and surface water which are the major source of their livelihood.
