by Isi Esene

Royal Dutch Shell Plc. operating in the Nigerian Delta has announced a cut in its crude production; a decision which was necessitated by a fire suspected to be from an attempt to illegally tap crude from one of its lines.

According to the oil concern, the shutdown of the line would cut production by about 150,000 barrels of oil a day.

Shell reportedly made this known yesterday through its corporate media relations manager, Tony Okonedo, who said the decision to shut the trunk line was as a result of damage done to it by crude oil thieves in the area.

He said the company is doing everything it can to contain the fire and do necessary repairs before resuming production.

Okonedo disclosed that a vessel was found at the spot of the fire incident around Okololunch community in Rivers State which suggests the activities of oil thieves.

The Shell spokesman did not disclose the quantity of crude spilled in the incident.

Shell produced about 800,000 barrels of oil a day in Nigeria last year.