Oil firm Eni cuts production due to pipeline attack in Nigeria

Italian oil firm Eni on Monday said its crude oil production had been cut down by 65,000 barrels per day following a recent attack on its pipeline in Nigeria's southeastern Bayelsa province.

In an electronic statement, crude production figures provided by the parent firm of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) showed that Africa's largest oil producer was losing about 3.12 million U.S. dollars in revenue each day the facility operated by NAOC remains out of production.

Earlier attacks on the company's oilfield on May 18 and May 24 had resulted in declaration of force majeure which shutdown some 5,200 barrels of Eni's equity share of oil output.

Recent attacks on oil and gas facilities in Nigeria has led to a shortfall, bringing down the West African country's production to as low as 1.4 million barrels per day.

The Niger Delta Avengers, a new militant group in Nigeria, had claimed responsibility for the attack on oil and gas pipelines in the country's oil-rich region.

The group said the attacks were "in line with our promise to all international oil companies and indigenous oil companies that Nigeria oil production will be zero."

The militants had recently rejected a meeting convened by the federal government in Abuja, saying they were preparing to carry out an attack which will "shock the whole world."

The group's operations have become more audacious in recent weeks as it continues to cripple Nigeria's oil production in hopes of achieving its aim of establishing a sovereign nation for the Niger Delta people. Endit