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Nigeria's regulator begins assessment of Shell's onshore divestment in Niger Delta area

Nigeria's oil regulator on Monday commenced the examination of the divestment procedures of Shell's 75yearold onshore properties to Renaissance company, the new financiers.

Shell in January announced that it had actually reached an contract to sell its onshore assets in the Niger Delta area to Renaissance and concentrate on Deepwater and Integrated gas investments.

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited is a consortium of 5 companies comprising four exploration and production companies based in Nigeria and an international energy group.

Gbenga Komolafe, the president of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission at the start of the exercise, said the possessions hold a combined estimated volume of 6.73 billion barrels of oil and condensate, and 56.27 trillion cubic feet of associated and non-associated gas.

Our objective is clear at this due diligence conference: to determine follower who not just possesses the requisite funds but likewise demonstrates the technical proficiency to responsibly handle these properties throughout their lifecycle, Komolafe said, including, as regulators, we will make sure that this evaluation is performed with accuracy and impartiality, with a concentrate on openness and accountability.

The regulator would also take a look at other problems like the seller's labour relations and liabilities to employees, if any, and the obligations to host communities.

According to Komolafe, the Shell JV possessions were originally awarded as Oil Exploration Licence 1

(source: Reuters)