Niger oil blowout eases but remains uncontrolled

A crude oil and gas blowout at the Goumeri W8 well in northeastern Niger has decreased in intensity but has not been fully controlled, Environment Minister Colonel Abdoulaye Maizama said.

The oil ministry said the blowout began on September 25 at the well, about 1,700 kilometres from Niamey, and described it on October 13 as an environmental incident of exceptional severity. It said large amounts of crude oil and gas had been expelled more than 10 metres into the air.

Maizama said authorities still cannot estimate the volume of crude oil released. He said technical teams are working to control the blowout and protect the environment, and that the spill has damaged grazing land and soils in the pastoral Agadem region, raising fears over possible shallow groundwater contamination.

The oil ministry said a relief well is scheduled to be drilled between October 24 and December 26 and urged residents to avoid the area because of continuing gas emissions. Authorities have ruled out criminal or terrorist involvement, but the cause remains unknown.