Vandals attack Shell’s pipeline in Bayelsa – NOSDRA confirms
Oredola Adeola
The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has confirmed that vandals were responsible for an oil leak that occurred on Saturday distrupting flow in Benisede-Brass creek delivery line at Peretuorugbene, Bayelsa. This was contained in statement released by Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, on Sunday.
EnergyDay gathered that an estimated 110 barrels of crude oil may have been wasted due to the leakage.
NOSDRA in its investigation revealed that the leak occurred on the pipeline operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). The agency also expressed displeasure over the impact of activities oil theft and pipeline vandalism on the environment and economy.
Musa revealed that the leak incident was reported on the 12 inch Benisede-Brass Creek Delivery Line at Peretuorugbene in Bayelsa. The NOSDRA DG noted that frequent vandalism of gas pipelines was responsible for the massive drop in power generation and collapse of the national grid.
He said that a Joint Investigation conducted by NOSDRA, the operator, and community representatives on the incident indicated that it was caused by oil thieves.
According to him, the investigating team discovered that suspected vandals installed several ‘tapping points’ on the Benisede-Brass Creek pipeline, from where they syphoned crude.
The DG noted that the action of the vandals is an economic sabotage on Nigeria. He therefore said, “Despite several appeals to our people to put the nation’s environment and the economy at a higher level of consideration and consciousness, some unpatriotic elements continue to inflict untold hardship on our environment and the economy.
“They do this by installing several tapping points on crude oil pipelines, particularly the current incidents at 12” Benisede-Brass Creek Delivery Line at Peretuorugbene in Bayelsa.
“The current collapse of the National Grid is also fueled by the incessant vandalism of the gas pipelines, both causing embarrassment to the nation as well as sabotaging government efforts in providing quality services to the nation.
“The Agency is further calling on our people to join hands with the government in a bid to flush out the criminal elements that are bent on enriching themselves through pipeline repairs and oil theft”, Musa said.
Meanwhile EnergyDay’s attempt to get a confirmation of the incident from Bamidele Odugbesan, SPDC’s media relations manager, failed, as he was not responding to calls and messages sent to him contact.
