(Adds detail)
LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell's RDSa.L
Bonga oilfield in Nigeria will undergo maintenance in March and
April, though the impact on production and exact dates are still
being finalised, a spokesman said.
Shell operates the offshore field via its Nigerian
subsidiary SNEPCo. In March, around 153,000 barrels per day
(bpd) of crude were due for export, according to a loading
programme. O/LOAD
"The Bonga FPSO will be undergoing scheduled maintenance and
project activities in addition to regulatory inspections during
March and April. Exact dates and production impacts are
currently under review,” the spokesman said.
So far, no April loading programme has emerged. Traders said
just two cargo loading dates came out for April 1-2 and 11-12,
the first of which is likely a deferral from March.
Bonga, known as Bonga North West, is located in the OML 118
block. Shell announced plans to develop another field called
Bonga South West inside the same area. The $10 billion
development is expected to add 200,000 bpd, roughly 10% of
Nigeria's current oil production.
However, uncertainty over future fiscal terms has delayed a
final investment decision.