Posted by By Kio Nimengoka on
A total of 141 projects and programmes covering areas of economic empowerment, community health and basic infrastructure and services were executed by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 2004.
A total of 141 projects and programmes covering areas of economic empowerment, community health and basic infrastructure and services were executed by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 2004.
The company spent the sum of $25 million on the projects, which is 18 per cent lower than the $30 million that was spent in 2003.
These were contained in the 2004 annual report of the company, which was made available to journalists last Friday in Port Harcourt by the Corporate External Affairs Manager of SPDC, Mr Donald Sotoibi Boham during a chat.
The company attributed the reduction in its projects to the Sustainable Community Development (SCD) transition and corporate re-organization during the year, which necessitated a major review and re-alignment of the community projects.
The SCD policy, according to the company, emphasizes on building and working with government, local and international development organizations, communities and other stakeholders to realize sustainable development in the host communities than mere assistance.
Specifically on agriculture, the company completed 12 projects while 14 others have begun in the areas of fishing, food processing, crop farming and livestock.
It has also given support to 800 co-operative societies.
The company also undertook the completion of three women's development centres along with two other income generating projects, which brought it to 11 centres and awarded a total of 2,600 secondary and 850 university, scholarships.
Fielding questions from journalists, Mr. Boham said the company contributed the sum of $21 million as its share in 2003 from the joint venture's statutory contribution to the funding of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which amounted to $68.9 million, adding that it would increase to $100 million next year to ensure economic capacity building.
On Rukpokwu oil spill, Mr. Boham disclosed the efforts made by the company to clean-up the impacted areas and expressed surprise that the community shut down the company's flow station when proper negotiations have not begun.
The Corporate External Affairs Manager also expressed shock when a petition written by the community representatives calling on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate all SPDC staff over an alleged embezzlement of funds meant for the clean-up exercise was showed to him by some journalists, and denied knowledge of the petition.
On Ogoniland, Mr. Boham commended the efforts of President Olusegun Obasanjo to bring about reconciliation, adding that the company was waiting for the chairman of the reconciliation committee's invitation so that the issues involved would be addressed.
On gas flaring, the Corporate External Affairs Manager disclosed that by 2009, wit the complete installation of associated gas gathering projects, (GGA) flaring of gas would be eliminated but regretted that the company would not be able to meet the flares- down target of 2008 as earlier agreed.