LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Community leaders in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta say a new oil spill has been seen near a Royal Dutch Shell PLC pipeline where a fire broke out earlier this week.
The oil sheen could be seen Sunday near the Okordia Rumuekepe trunkline in Bayelsa state, which is operated by Shell's Nigerian subsidiary. The same trunkline saw a fire break out Friday.
In a statement, Shell said it tried to put out the fire Friday, but they were blocked by "a community women blockade." The company said it had no information about Sunday's spill.
Oil spills remain common in Nigeria's Niger Delta, more than 50 years after the country saw its first well open. Nigeria is a major supplier of crude oil to the U.S.