U.S. oil company, Exxon Mobil Corp, says it has suspended exports from Nigeria’s top crude stream due to renewed activities of militants in the Niger Delta region. A statement from the company says it had declared a force majeure – a suspension of deliveries because of events beyond its control – on Nigeria’s Qua Iboe crude oil grade BFO-QUA, and that a portion of production had been curtailed after a drilling rig damaged a pipeline.
Only last week, Royal Dutch Shell shut down one of its major pipelines and declared force majeure on Bonny Light crude exports due to renewed militant activities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. A new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, attacked an oil platform in Delta belonging to Chevron.