Chevron says it shuts down oil flow-station in Nigeria

Chevron shut down a second oil flow-station in Nigeria amid unrest in the oil-rich delta, a company spokeswoman said Friday.

"I can confirm that we shut down Robertkiri late Saturday, following information it was under immediate threat," said Chevron spokeswoman Edith Azinge in Lagos. She said Robertkiri usually produces 19,000 barrels per day.

A separatist militia group has threatened oil installations after the government arrested its leader and said it would charge him with treason, a capital offense.

Nigeria is the world's eighth largest oil exporter and the fifth main supplier to the United States.

The militia said its fighters shut down a Chevron oil flow-station in Idama in the Niger delta, and were planning to destroy it. Chevron spokesman Femi Odumabolaims said Chevron opted to shut down Idama's production after "youths disarmed the government security forces around it."

Idama produces just 8,000 barrels per day. Nigeria's daily total output is about 2.5 million barrels.