Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary has shut its 180,000 barrel-per-day Trans Niger pipeline in Nigeria due to a leak, the company said in a statement on Monday, effectively shutting in exports of Bonny Light crude oil.

    The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) said it shut the pipeline on July 21 after a leak at B-Dere, Ogoniland. The company said it did not yet know the cause of the leak.

Shell declared force majeure on Bonny Light exports earlier this month after the closure of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line by operator Aiteo, the only other export avenue, but until last week loadings continued via the Trans Niger Pipeline.

August exports of Bonny Light had originally been planned at more than 200,000 bpd.

SPDC said efforts are ongoing for a joint investigation visit to determine the cause of the leak and repair of the pipeline.