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The article reports on the problems facing the growing oil industry in Nigeria despite the rising output and crude oil prices, including a new legislation that is expected to reduce investments and the attack against the pipeline of Royal Dutch Shell in the Niger Delta.

The article reports on a tentative deal signed between Nigeria and China to develop three oil refineries in the former in 2010.

The article reports on the aim of acting Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan to revive the energy sector of the country in which he has held discussions with several executives from foreign oil companies.

The article analyzes the impact of the alleged attempt of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up an airplane on the threat of terrorism in Nigeria. There is a concern that an extremist Islamic activity in Nigeria and West Africa is possibly existing. U.S. officials are critical that West Virginia could become vulnerable to terrorist networks that are active in North and East Africa. It recounts that in 2008, five militants allegedly planning to attack the government of Nigeria, three of whom were reportedly trained in a camp run by al Qaeda in the Magreb.

The article reports that Royal Dutch Shell PLC is looking to sell various onshore petroleum-production assets in Nigeria. Over a several-year period the firm has lost hundreds of millions of dollars of profit due to attacks on their facilities by militant forces. Royal Dutch Shell will retain its natural-gas assets in the country, as well as its interests in offshore petroleum production.

The article reports that Exxon Mobil Corp. has renewed three oil leases for fields it operates in Nigeria, according to a firm spokesman. During the signing ceremony in Abuja on November 20, 2009, the three leases were extended for another 20 years with an option to renew. Under a pending legislation in the nation, the scope of the joint ventures with Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) would be changed by increasing tax and royalty rates on Western oil companies.

The article reports on the cease-fire call made by the militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to advance negotiations with the Nigerian government on October 25, 2009. MEND said that it will stop bombing of oil pipelines for an indefinite period. It is said that the attacks has affected the revenue of the government as it is considered as one of the biggest oil producers in Africa. The European Union (EU) pledged to provide 200 million euros to support job creation programs as part of the amnesty of the government.

The article reports on the negotiation between China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) and Nigeria regarding the company's plan to acquire the blocks owned by Royal Dutch Shell PLC and other firms after China faced problems on deals in other African nations such as Angola and Libya in September 2009. A bid worth 462 million U.S. dollars issued by China National Petroleum Corp. for Verenex Energy Inc. was vetoed by the Libyan government on September 8. Also noted is the uncertainty on whether CNOOC will establish nonoil projects in the region.

This article focuses on criticism by state governors and political analysts of the amnesty program offered to militants by Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua in 2009. The amnesty program, which is aimed at stopping militants from bombing petroleum pipelines, is also criticized by the militants themselves. Critics said that the plan does not address core issues that give rise to insurgency and that it does not offer a permanent solution to the problem.

This article reports on the decision of Chevron Corp. to stop its production of crude oil in Warri, Nigeria following an attack on one of its petroleum pipelines. It relates that the battle between government forces and rebels belonging to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has entered in its second week. Chevron has stopped production of 100,000 barrels of crude oil a day in Warri. Human-rights groups are concerned about the plight of civilians as the fighting escalates.

The article reports on a warning issued by Royal Dutch Shell PLC that oil-facility attacks in Nigeria in September 2008 have substantially reduced its oil and natural-gas production in the said country and will hurt earnings. According to Oppenheimer & Co., Nigeria accounted for around $1 billion, or 4%, of the oil company's $25 billion net profit in 2007. The oil infrastructure attacks were precipitated by clashes between the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and the military.

The article reports on the woes of the Royal Dutch Shell PLC with regard to its oil production in Nigeria. The woes of Shell in Nigeria has worsened as Nigeria's main militant group started fresh attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. The group known as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) attacked Shell's crude-gathering facility in Port Harcourt. The article states that oil prices did not react to the attacks on the Shell facility and that Shell is evacuating some employees in some field locations.

The article reports on the announcement from Royal Dutch Shell PLC that it will not be able to meet most of its Nigerian oil-export obligations with customers for the next two months following militant attacks on its facilities on July 28, 2008. The move by the company is expected to result to global shortage of Nigerian Bonny crude supply. Shell spokesman Rainer Winzenried says Shell declared force majeure with customers after assessing the damage caused by attacks on the Nembe Creek and Rumuekpe oil pipelines.

The article reports that the militant group Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had bombed two oil pipelines being operated by Royal Dutch Shell PLC in Nigeria. The company had confirmed that one of the pipelines in Nembe Creek was damaged and it was forced to cut flows. According to the article, the group has been bombing pipelines and abducting foreign oil workers for more than two years in an attempt to get a greater share of the country's oil.

The article reports on the decision of Royal Dutch Shell PLC to temporarily suspend 225,000 barrels a day of oil output in Nigeria following an attack on the Bonga field facility on June 19, 2008. Nigerian militant group the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is said to be responsible for the attack and threatened further attacks at the site. It notes that total temporary suspensions in Nigeria caused by militant attacks account for 800,000 to one million barrels a day of Nigerian capacity.

The article offers a price forecast on oil for the year 2008. Due to factors such as the turmoil in Nigeria and the production drop in Russia, oil-market watchers are predicting that oil prices could reach over $150 per barrel. As of May 6, 2008, U.S. benchmark crude settled at $121.84 on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). Analysts believe that a sharp decline in the global demand for oil might keep the oil prices from going up.

The article reports that labor disputes in Nigeria and Great Britain have disrupted 2.5% of crude oil production in 2008. Workers at the Grangemouth refinery, which is operated by Ineos PLC, held a two-day strike as they failed to agree on a pension plan. Also, workers of the local affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corp. held their own strike as they failed to reach an agreement on pay. Even if the disputes end, the article says there are fears that it will take time before production reaches normal levels.

The article offers information on oil production setbacks in Nigeria as of April 25, 2008. An attack on an oil pipeline operated by the Royal Dutch shell PLC on April 24, 2008 and a labor dispute at the local unit of Exxon Mobil Corp. on its second day in April 25 reportedly closed off a major production in the country that sent world crude prices higher. Nigeria, according to the article, is Africa's biggest oil exporter.

The article reports on the ongoing negotiations between Russian natural-gas company OAO Gazprom and the Nigerian government regarding a deal by which the company would help explore and develop the huge gas resources in the country. A Gazprom delegation reportedly visited Nigeria in December 2007 to discuss the possibilities for participation in the gas sector. It notes that the company's interest in Nigeria highlights the growing competitive threat of state-run companies to Western energy firms.

The article reports that the Nigerian government is planning to make changes in its energy and petroleum industry. President Umaru Yar'Adua wants Nigeria to have a national oil company to help manage its energy resources better. Such plan also aims to balance the state's relationship with foreign energy companies. As of December 2007, the Nigerian government is in its early stages of negotiating offshore exploration deals with oil companies like Chevron Corp., Shell, and Total SA.

The article reports on the plan of Royal Dutch Shell PLC to cut spending from its Nigerian operations in the following years. It plans to cut at least $100 million in order to offset rising costs and lost revenue. Such move signals the company's continuing strife and production problems in the country.

The article deals with Chevron Corporation's decision on May 11, 2007 to pull workers from oil fields in the south of Nigeria. Information is presented on the impact of election-related attacks against foreign oil companies on the domestic industry's output. A statement was issued by Chevron concerning the temporary suspension of its work activities in Nigeria. The two main factors affecting global oil prices are violence and production shortfalls.

The article reports on the impact of military attacks against militants in Nigeria on world oil markets in February 2006.