Pipeline leakage forces Shell to shut TNP.

A vandalised pipeline

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited has shut the Trans Niger Pipeline following reports of new leaks.

This came 10 days after the line was repaired following a leak caused by the activities of crude oil thieves. Some 150,000 barrels oil is deferred.
The latest leaks were reported at B-Dere, Nonwa–Tai and Bodo West – all in Ogoni land, a statement from Shell said on Wednesday.

SPDC said it shut the line as a precautionary measure after receiving reports of the incidents and had also mobilised a spill response team.

A joint investigation visit will be conducted as soon as possible to determine the cause and impact of the spills, the company assured.

The firm, last month, reopened the pipeline, which supplies about 150,000 barrels of crude per day, after about two months of closure.

Shell had announced the reopening of the pipeline on September 8 this year.

The company had earlier shut the TNP in July following a leak on the Bomu-Bonny section at Owokiri, which was found to be caused by a six-inch crude theft valve placed on the line.

The shut-down came just days after Shell had re-opened the line following an explosion and fire in June at a point that had been targeted by oil thieves at Bodo West in the Niger Delta’s Ogoniland.

SPDC stated in July that it estimated the total daily loss from the TNP shutdown to be roughly $15m.

The closure of the line then had also hit Nigeria’s domestic power generation, with SPDC being forced to shut down the Afam VI power plant due to a shortage of gas arising from the closure of the pipeline.

Shell had in a statement signed by its Corporate Media Relations Manager, Mr. Tony Okonedo, said the shut-down of the TNP system, comprising the 28-inch and 24-inch streams, resulted in the deferment of 150,000 barrels of oil per day, and also led to non-evacuation of condensate from Okoloma Gas Plant, which supplies Afam VI power plant with feed gas.

Okonedo had expressed concern about the negative impact of the incessant crude oil theft activities on lives and environment in the Niger Delta, and also the shortage of electricity to businesses and households across the country.

Punch.