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Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), operator of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30, has relocated more than 100 residents of Uzere community in Delta State as investigations continue into reported gas bubbles in the area.
The company said the relocation was a precautionary measure to protect residents living close to the affected locations while relevant agencies investigate the nature and source of the reported gas activity.
The intervention was highlighted during a multi-agency visit to the community involving the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Delta State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Red Cross Society, Nigerian Army and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), alongside the OML 30 Joint Venture partners and other stakeholders.
Speaking during the visit, Heritage Energy’s Manager, Community Relations, Jeremiah Oharisi, said the company was working with community leaders and the local government council to ensure the safety of residents. He said the company’s responsibility to its host communities went beyond its oil and gas operations, adding that it would continue to support residents during the period of uncertainty.
Oharisi said the company had also sustained gas sampling, air quality assessments and monitoring across identified locations, with support from its emergency response team and fire department, which operates five fire trucks.
To strengthen the investigation, Heritage Energy engaged independent technical experts to analyse gas samples, while the NUPRC facilitated the engagement of Norwegian technical experts who visited the community to collect additional samples for advanced isotope analysis.
The analysis is expected to help determine the source and composition of the reported emissions. The Director, South South Directorate of NEMA, Godwin Tepikor, commended Heritage Energy for its intervention, particularly the relocation of residents as a precautionary measure. He urged the company to sustain collaboration with SEMA and community representatives, especially in addressing requests for relocation from other residents. Tepikor said government had a responsibility to provide humanitarian assistance to citizens during emergencies, stressing that support should continue while investigations into the incident were ongoing.
“The people affected are Nigerians and, as a government, we owe our people a duty of care to attend to them in times of need and distress,” he said.
The community also acknowledged the company’s intervention, particularly the relocation of affected residents to hotels within the town, but called for sustained support to address outstanding concerns.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Dr Uyomatere Ajirioghene appreciated Heritage Energy’s response but said more needed to be done.
“In the course of this response, we have witnessed Heritage’s intervention and would like to acknowledge and thank them for what they have done so far, even if we have collectively agreed that it is not enough,” he said.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Ovie of Uzere Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Isaac Udogri I, before holding a town hall meeting with residents.
The meeting provided an opportunity for community members to raise concerns, discuss emerging issues and seek coordinated measures to address the reported gas occurrence.
Heritage Energy operates OML 30 on behalf of its joint venture partners, NNPC Exploration & Production Limited and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited.
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