The Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) explosion that occurred on Friday at the Rumuekpe section in the Rivers region was caused by oil thieving, according to the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) inquiry.
In a statement providing an update on the situation on Sunday, SPDC stated that a breach on the TNP had been discovered on Saturday as a result of a joint investigation by regulators, host communities, operators, and state environmental ministry.
Michael Adande, the SPDC spokesperson, expressed regret for the incident’s fatalities and expressed sympathy to the deceased’ families in a statement.
He continued by saying that the precise number of casualties caused by rescue efforts by security agencies had not been disclosed.
A little over ten people perished on Friday as a result of the explosion, according to Rivers Police.
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According to Obasanjonerws24, crude is transported to the Bonny Crude Oil Export Terminal by the TNP, which is run by SPDC, from oil fields in Rivers and some areas of Bayelsa.
Prior to the start of the joint inquiry on Saturday, Adande claimed that the fire along the Rumuekpe-Nkpoku boot line in Rivers had been extinguished.
“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) acknowledges with deep sorrow that the fire incident, which took place on Friday, March 3, 2023, on the Rumuekpe-Nkpoku Trunk Line in Rivers State, led to the regrettable loss of lives.
“To determine the precise number of deaths killed in the event, government security services are still conducting investigations. We express our condolences to the affected families since this is indeed a terribly tragic tragedy.
The extinguished fire occurred at the site of an illegal connection that was being used for crude theft, according to the findings of the government-led Joint Investigation Visit team that included members of the community.
The Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), he explained, includes the Rumuekpe-Nkpoku Trunk Line, which was not in use at the time of the event.
