UPDATE 1-Rebels say cut 350,000 bpd of Shell Nigeria output

Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:26pm BST
 
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LAGOS, April 28 (Reuters) - Niger Delta rebels said on Monday that an April 24 pipeline attack had shut down a further 350,000 barrels a day of production by Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) in Nigeria, the world's eighth-biggest oil exporter.

A Shell spokesman was unavailable for comment.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said that attack brought to more than 500,000 barrels a day of Shell's production affected by its recent attacks.

The company said last week that a previous bombing had hit 169,000 barrels a day of its output. The attacks and a strike at Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), the top foreign producer in Nigeria, have helped push oil prices to a record high near $120 a barrel on Monday.

"Our sources inside the Shell Petroleum Development Company has informed us today that the consequence of our April 24 attack on the Kula major trunk line is the disruption of a further 350,000 bpd," MEND said in an email statement.

MEND, which says its wants greater autonomy and development for the Niger Delta, pledged to continue its attacks until it had crippled every pipeline in the region.

Shell shares fell on the news, trading down 0.41 percent at 1409 GMT, compared to a 0.75 percent rise in the DJ Stox European oil and gas sector index .SXEP (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: africa.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Daniel Flynn, additional reporting by Tom Bergin in London)

 

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