By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) is investigating a pipeline owned by Shell’s subsidiary in Nigeria that has spilled crude oil in the Niger Delta following a leak.
The Obolo-Ogale pipeline in southern Rivers State feeds the 180,000 barrel-per-day Trans Niger line, one of two conduits to export Bonny Light crude. It had restarted operations this month after being shut for maintenance in December.
The spill was detected on Friday by local communities who reported it to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and NOSDRA.
NOSDRA’s head of operations in Rivers State, Mr Ime Ekanem, over the weekend, said it has received a report on the spill and will hold a joint investigation visit to the site on Sunday.
Shell has over the years faced several legal battles over oil spills in the Niger Delta, a region blighted by pollution, conflict, and corruption related to the oil and gas industry.
The company this week announced it was set to conclude nearly a century of operations in Nigerian onshore oil and gas after agreeing to sell SPDC to a consortium of five mostly local companies for up to $2.4 billion.
Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity has always been impaired by the loss of crude from these pipelines which are vandalised by parties, who then refine them illegally.
Business Post also reported that a gas pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company exploded last week in Rivers State.
It was gathered that no human casualty was recorded, but farmlands were allegedly destroyed, according to reports.
The last explosion, which reportedly occurred last Wednesday, happened barely a month after a similar incident allegedly claimed lives in Omoku West also in the same LGA.