NIGERIAN GOVT ORDERED TO RENEW SHELL’S LICENCE

A NIGERIAN high court ordered the government to renew Shell Petroleum Development’s operating licence for the Oil Mineral Lease 11 field, which was withdrawn earlier this year, Lagos-based Punch newspaper reported. The Federal High Court in the capital, Abuja, ordered the licence be renewed for the maximum 20 years, and not the 30 years that the oil major was seeking, the newspaper reported, citing Judge Taiwo Taiwo. Shell met all requirements for the renewal and the size of the field area cannot be reduced, Punch cited the judge as saying. Presidency spokesperson Femi Adesina declined to comment on Saturday, while information minister Lai Mohammed did not answer calls. Calls to Shell’s spokesperson in Lagos didn’t connect. | Bloomberg