CLEAN NIGERIA ASSOCIATES LIMITED: DEVELOPMENT, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE OF AN AFRICAN OIL SPILL CO-OPERATIVE

ABSTRACT Clean Nigeria Associates Limited (CNA) was established in 1981 by oil companies operating in Nigeria as a non-profit second tier oil spill response organization. The primary objective was to provide a pool resource of oil spill response equipment, fast and effective second tier oil spill response capabilities, and expertise to aid members of the association in combating oil spills as a back up to any such capability kept by individual members. CNA Oil Spill Response equipment and materials are currently stocked in Nigeria in two main bases (Onne and Warri) and two satellite bases (Kaduna and Eket) in Nigeria. The main bases became effectively active in 1985 when most of the equipments were purchased for CNA by Halliburton Nigeria Limited who was then the procurement and operating contractor. The CNA stockpiles seven general types of oil spill response equipment/materials as follows:1. Fast Response Vessels and Flat Bottom Boats2. Offshore and inland Containment Booms3. Skimmers and Pumps4. Dispersant Spraying System5. Sorbents6. Vehicles7. Communication Equipment Currently, CNA has three outsourced contracts - operations, warehousing and vehicle leasing. Also, upgrade activities are in progress to position CNA to play its role as enshrined in the newly established Nigerian National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. This paper describes the history, development, challenges and future of CNA the first oil spill co-operative in Africa and its role in the rapidly changing Nigerian energy scene. It will also examine the method in which it functions as well as oil spills to which it has responded.