Suspected vandals blow off gas pipeline in Bayelsa State

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
Nigeria’s gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) has been cut by 5 million Standard Cubic Meters per day (MMSCM/d) following reported vandalism on the 24” Ogboinbiri/OB-OB at Azikoro community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Residents near the incident site said they head sound of explosions on Tuesday morning in the area and saw small batteries and wires suspected to the used by the suspected vandals to detonate Improvised Explosive Device.
The gas pipeline operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) was vandalised thrice in April 2022.
Mr Idris Musa, Director-General/CEO, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), confirmed the pipeline blast on Wednesday.
He said the gas line which evacuates an average of 5 MMSCM/d was reported to the agency in the early hour of Tuesday,
Musa noted that following the notification, a team of officials comprising the Secretary of Azikoro community, the Commissioner of Mineral Resources, Bayelsa, and representatives of NOSDRA, visited the incident site on Wednesday at 9.00 am.
The DG/CEO explained that an explosion was also reported to the agency by the Azikoro community at 11.38 am and subsequently, NOAC, the owners of the facility was promptly notified of the incident.
“Due to high pressure, NAOC was directed by NOSDRA to depressurize the facility preparatory for a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) which will follow immediately to ascertain the cause and extent of the incident.
“NAOC is already at the incident site, with the Agency among other stakeholders working to contain the explosion and secure the incident site preparatory to JIV and other remedial measures,” Musa said.
He assured that NOSDRA would conduct the investigations in a transparent manner amd pledged that its findings would be made public in due course.
Meanwhile, officials of NAOC declined comments when contacted for a reaction.