.As NUPRC, NOSDRA confirm investigation into incidence
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) says investigation into Friday’s explosion at the Rumuekpe section of Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Rivers State showed the blast was caused by activities of oil thieves.
Shell in an update statement on Sunday, said a joint investigation by representatives of the regulators, host communities, the operator, and the state Ministry of Environment on Saturday, discovered a breach on the TNP.
According to the oil firm, the trunk line fire was put out before Saturday’s joint investigation began.
Issued by a spokesperson for SPDC, Michael Adande, the statement reads further: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) confirms with great sadness that the fire incident, which occurred on Friday, March 3, 2023, on the Rumuekpe-Nkpoku Trunk Line in Rivers State, resulted in the unfortunate loss of lives.
“Government security agencies are still investigating to know the exact number of lives lost in the incident. This is indeed a deeply regrettable incident, and we commiserate with the families that have been impacted.
“The report of the government-led Joint Investigation Visit team, which included representatives of the community, ascertained that the fire, which has been extinguished, occurred at the site of an illegal connection used for crude theft.
“The Rumuekpe-Nkpoku Trunk Line, which was not operational at the time of the incident, is part of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP).”
The TNP, operated by SPDC, evacuates crude from oil fields in Rivers and parts of Bayelsa states to the Bonny Export Terminal.
The report of the government-led Joint Investigation Visit team, which included representatives of the community, ascertained that the fire, which has been extinguished, occurred at the site of an illegal connection used for crude theft.
Joint investigation
Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), says investigation into the explosion is underway.
The Director-General of NOSDRA, Idris Musa, said on Saturday that a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) was scheduled for Saturday to ascertain the cause of the blast and volume of crude spilled.
JIV is a statutory inquiry that follows every oil spill incident consisting of representatives of the oil firm, regulators, host community and State Ministry of Environment.
Similarly, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), says it has begun investigation into the explosion near a pipeline in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers.
Its Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, said on Friday in Abuja that it began the investigation in conjunction with relevant stakeholders and would provide updates appropriately.
According to Komolafe, the investigation is in line with the NUPRC’s statutory regulatory oversight of upstream operations in the oil and gas industry.
“NUPRC wishes to announce that an explosion leading to a major fire incident near a pipeline in Rumuekpe community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers on Thursday night has been reported.
“There are speculations about the level of casualties, but the Commission cannot confirm any until after our investigation,” he said.
He also assured that NUPRC would take all necessary measures to ensure that safety and environmental measures were put in place in line with global best practices to safeguard lives and the environment.
