* Force majeure declared in April due to pipeline shutdown
* Theft, leakages cutting 15 percent of Nigerian oil output
* Shell says gas supplies improve but force majeure in place
ABUJA, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell haslifted a force majeure on Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil exportswhich was declared in April after the shut down of a 150,000barrel per day pipeline, the company said on Friday.
Africa's biggest oil exporter has been producing around 15percent below its 2.5 million bpd (bpd) capacity this year dueto widespread oil theft and leakages from ageing pipelines.
"The force majeure on Bonny Light exports was liftedeffective 1600 hours Thursday Oct. 3 following the re-opening ofthe 24-inch TNP (Trans Niger Pipeline)," a statement said.
Shell is the foreign oil major worst affected by oil theftbut Italian energy company Eni has also had its profitshit by criminal gangs tapping into its pipelines.
The Anglo-Dutch major has resumed gas supplies to Nigeria's22 million metric tonne a year liquefied natural gas terminalbut a force majeure on gas remains in place, the statement said.
"(We) will decide when best to lift the force majeuredeclared on that (supply) activity," the statement said, addingthat repairs to the Trans Niger and Nembe Creek pipelines wereprogressing.