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A pipeline rupture in southeastern Nigeria that caused the spillage of 10,000 barrels of crude oil and forced two major refineries to shut down temporarily has been repaired despite opposition by affected communities, officials said on Tuesday.
State-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said a pipeline explosion last week at Kpokpo Creek, near the Escravos crude export terminal operated by US transnational Chevron Corp, disrupted supplies to its refineries at nearby Warri and the northern city of Kaduna. It blamed the incident on sabotage.
“The damage was rectified between Friday and Monday,” an NNPC spokesman told IRIN. “Normal crude oil supplies to the refineries should resume any moment from now.”
The official said threats by people in the affected community of Gbaramatu to block repairs to the pipeline unless paid compensation for environmental damage caused by the spill did not materialise. Experts from two construction firms, Berger and Belfinger, were able to complete the repairs without interference.
Local people in the Niger Delta oil region, which has witnessed a rash of pipeline explosions and oil spills in recent years, often oppose immediate repairs where sabotage is alleged. This is due to a standing policy of oil companies to refuse compensation for damage done by pipeline ruptures when sabotage is alleged or established.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
