By Benoit Faucon
LONDON--Exxon Mobil Corp. Monday confirmed a small oil spill and
fire at its Nigerian operations following lightning strikes over
the weekend.
The U.S. oil giant operates the Qua Iboe terminal complex--which
typically exports 20% of Nigeria's output--in the Eastern part of
Nigeria's Niger Delta. The facility has generally been spared of
sabotage and oil theft prevalent elsewhere in the region because
its production is offshore.
An ExxonMobil spokesman said that on Sunday a loss of power at
the facility caused by lightning strikes had resulted in a "very
small amount" of spilled oil.
On Friday, lightning strikes had already sparked a fire at a
tank facility, which was extinguished the same day, the spokesman
said.
Offshore production and loading operations are continuing, he
added.
Write to Benoit Faucon at benoit.faucon@wsj.com
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