March 28, 2024

NLNG feedstock cut by 5mmscm/d,as NOSDRA confirms Bayelsa gas pipeline explosion

Samuel Agbelusi

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, has confirmed the blast on the 24″ Ogboinbiri/OB-OB gas pipeline at Azikoro community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

It was reported on Monday, that there was a gas leakage along the Bayelsa Palm-New Otuoke Road near Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Mr. Idris Musa, Director-General/CEO, NOSDRA, confirmed the pipeline blast yesterday, Wednesday, 21 September 2022.

Musa said following the notification, a team of officials comprising the Secretary of Azikoro community, Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Bayelsa, and representatives of NOSDRA, visited the incident site yesterday at 9am.

He explained that an explosion was also reported to the agency by the Azikoro community at 11.38 am and subsequently, NOAC, the operators 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 and pledged that its findings would be made public in due course.

Sources said the Nigerian Agip Oil Company and the Shell Development Company of Nigeria Limited operate pipelines crisscrossing the swampy area.

Energyday confirmed that the gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG, has been cut by five million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCM/d) following the incident.

Residents believed that the explosion is that of a detonated dynamite.