Audio By Carbonatix
Shell Plc, ExxonMobil Corp., Chevron Corp. and Equinor ASA plan to withdraw multibillion-dollar lawsuits against Nigeria’s state energy company after finalizing new terms for deepwater oil production in Africa’s largest crude producer.
In letters to two New York federal judges on Aug. 22, the oil majors said they had agreed to settle with the Nigerian National Petroleum Co. and will terminate ongoing litigation once the new arrangements take effect. The move came 10 days after the firms renewed leases with the Nigerian government and production-sharing contracts with the NNPC for the permits at the heart of long-running disputes over the allocation of crude.
Equinor and Chevron filed a suit in the US four years ago asking a court to enforce a $1.1 billion award issued by an arbitration tribunal against the NNPC in 2015. Shell and Exxon initiated similar proceedings in New York in 2014 over a $1.8 billion arbitration award. Both penalties followed allegations by the majors that the NNPC took crude beyond its entitlement under contracts signed in 1993 that were designed to incentivize the companies to develop deep offshore blocks.
Lawyers for Equinor and Chevron asked the judge to suspend the case until the end of October “to allow sufficient time for the conditions to be satisfied and for the settlement agreement to become effective.” Once that happens, the companies “expect to withdraw this action,” the letter said. Exxon and Shell anticipate being able to do the same after 60 days, they said in a separate letter.
The extension of Equinor’s license on Aug. 12 “was an important milestone” that “secures continued production and cash flow,” a spokesman said by email. “All outstanding disputes in Nigeria have also been resolved” as part of the renewal agreement, he said. Shell and Chevron declined to comment while Exxon and the NNPC didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
Latest Stories
-
Barcelona move a dream for Gordon ‘since he was three’
1 hour -
US judge orders Trump’s name be removed from Kennedy Center
1 hour -
Multiple artists drop out of US Freedom 250 concert
1 hour -
Trump holds meeting to make ‘final determination’ on Iran deal
1 hour -
All 6 MPC members voted for policy rate hold of 14%, citing inflation outlook concerns
1 hour -
Arsenal’s Timber fit to start Champions League final
3 hours -
Real Madrid named football’s most valuable club
3 hours -
The Visionary Rhythms Band to share their story on E Vibes this weekend
3 hours -
Nana Ajoa Amowah II distributes sanitary pads; champions fight against menstrual stigma
3 hours -
Newsfile to discuss NITA Bill, xenophobia concerns and 2023 African Games
3 hours -
Ghana farmers’ burning practices fuel growing air pollution and environmental crises
3 hours -
Unrivalled thrills, unmissable action: An epic sporting weekend
4 hours -
Mfantsipim launches 150th Anniversary Awards and Fundraising Dinner
4 hours -
TreeAid Ghana in partnership with Nviron Hive launch land restoration and livelihood project
4 hours -
Ashanti Region GJA urges journalists to protect ethics and public trust above politics
4 hours