Market News

An oil pipeline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has exploded at Ikarama Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

It is understood that the explosion which caused serious damage to oil pipelines at the scene was caused by the activities of some unidentified persons and it also affected pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

Ben Warder, a youth leader at Ikarama Community said on Tuesday that residents heard several sounds from the explosions that rocked the oil fields on Monday, but were too scared to approach the area.

Warder said: “The site is not far from Ikarama. We heard sounds from the blast and it sounded like dynamites and it was not safe to go near so when the situation became quiet, we had to trace what happened and it turned out that Shell’s gas pipeline and Agip’s crude lines were destroyed.

“The incident resulted to air pollution from the gas pipeline and crude leak which members of the affected communities are battling to cope with.”

Confirming the incident, Michael Adande, the SPDC spokesman explained that the oil firm had received reports of the incident and shutdown the facility to curtail impact.

Advance stated: “We have report of an interference on our pipeline about one kilometre from Ikarama Community in Bayelsa State.

“We immediately shut-in the line and we have informed the relevant regulatory government agencies and stakeholders.

“A government-led joint investigation team will determine the cause of the interference.”