Black smoke from the scene of the explosion

Okafor Ifiebor with agency report

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited says it has shut the Trans Niger Pipeline in Ogoni in Gio, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers.

In a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Mr Joe Obari, SPDC spokesman, said a fire was observed on the right of way of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) at Gio in Ogoni land.

“This is also the right of way of the Bonny–Refinery pipeline belonging to the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

Obari said that a joint investigation visit would determine the cause and impact of the fire.

Also, Precious Okolobo, spokesperson for Shell had in a telephone interview and said that the trunk line has been shut to avoid further damage to human lives and the ecosystem.

He  warned members of the host communities of the exploded pipeline to keep off the area to avoid harm as the company has not ascertained the immediate cause of the explosion in the early hours of Monday September 26 morning is yet to be ascertained.

Since the explosion there has fire huge black smoke that has enveloped the skyline polluting the environment.

Curiously, the explosion occurred just few meters from the surveillance post mounted by security agencies in the area.

The Trans Niger Pipeline is one of two major pipelines that carries the Bonny Light crude grade for export.

Force majeure was declared earlier in May by Shell on Bonny Light exports after the NCTL was closed.

SPDC shut the TNP as a precautionary measure pending the investigation.

The Anglo-Dutch oil giant is joined at TNP by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporaton (NNPC), French multinational company, Total and Italian major Eni’s subsidiary Agip.

The shutdown comes as repairs are completed on the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) that also moves the major export grade.(NAN)