Shell on Friday declared force majeure on its gas deliveries from Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas (NLNG) plant after an attempt to steal crude oil from a pipeline led to a fire, it said.

“An attempt was made to steal crude oil from the Bomu-Bonny trunk line and offload it onto a waiting ship that led to a fire on the line and on the ship on Sunday,” a Shell spokesman said.

The force majeure, which covers the company should delivery not occur due to circumstances beyond its control, took effect as of Oct. 4, he said.
Shell, which has a 25.6 percent stake in NLNG, on Sunday, shut its 28-inch Bomu-Bonny trunk line after oil thieves caused a fire, it said.

Nigeria, which is ranked seventh in the world for LNG exports, loads tankers from its Bonny Island liquefaction plant in the Niger Delta for export to Europe, Asia and the United States.

The other stakeholders in Nigeria LNG are the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 49 percent, Total (15 percent) and Eni (10.4 percent).