Nigeria's Forcados oil export terminal still closed; oil theft at 300,000 barrels per day

WARRI, Nigeria – Shell Nigeria says its Forcados oil export terminal remains closed, seven weeks after it was shut down to repair a sabotaged undersea pipeline. Militants claimed responsibility.

There are growing concerns in energy markets about supplies from the world's 13th largest producer but Shell won't say how much oil is not being exported. The government says oil thefts averaged 300,000 barrels a day and cost $12 billion last year.

Shell closed the terminal March 4 to repair a leak on an undersea pipeline. Niger Delta militants claimed the sabotage and said March 27 that scuba divers had further damaged repair work.

Shell spokesman Precious Okolobo confirmed Thursday the terminal remains closed.

Forcados has capacity to export 400,000 barrels a day, more than one fifth of Nigeria's production of 2.2 million barrels.