Oando Plc says it is working with authorities to probe the attack on its gas pipelines in Bayelsa state.
According to NAN on Friday, Idongesit Edet, assistant manager of public relations and internal communications at Oando, said the breached pipeline had been shut down to prevent further pollution and allow for investigations.
On April 4, TheCable reported that vandals damaged a 24-inch gas pipeline located in the Southern Ijaw local government area (LGA) in Bayelsa state.
Confirming the incident, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Bayelsa commissioner of information and orientation, described the damage of the facility as “criminal damage and economic sabotage”.
Edet said repair teams have been deployed to the damaged pipelines.
“Oando PLC confirms three separate attacks on its pipelines over the past week,” Edet said.
“In line with best practices, the company immediately activated its emergency response plans and commenced containment efforts at the affected sites to minimise environmental impact.
“The company also immediately deployed its leak repair teams to the affected sites and is working closely with relevant authorities to promptly carry out a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).”
JIV is a statutory probe into every reported oil and gas leak incident by regulators, an operator and the host community to ascertain the cause of the leak, the volume of the leak and impacted areas.
Edet said the joint investigation team’s assessment would help establish the full extent and underlying cause of the sabotage, allowing for the implementation of long-term solutions.
“Following the JIV, Oando will initiate full scale repairs on the affected pipelines towards ensuring operations resume as quickly as possible, whilst prioritising the safety of people, the protection of the environment, and well-being of the communities,” she added.
The company also reaffirmed its commitment to providing further updates as more information becomes available.
Pipeline sabotage and crude theft are some of the major reasons that oil majors like Shell, Exxon Mobil, Total and Eni have sold their onshore and shallow-water fields in Nigeria to concentrate on deep-water operations.
