The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) said it is investigating Friday’s explosion at the Rumuekpe section of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Kali.
Police in Rivers have confirmed that no fewer than 10 people were killed on Friday following an explosion near TNP in Rumuekpe, Rivers.
Mr. Idris Musa, Director General of NOSDRA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to the site has been scheduled for Friday to ascertain the cause of the explosion and the volume of crude spilled.
The JIV is a statutory inquiry that follows every oil spill incident and is made up of representatives of oil companies, regulators, host communities and the Ministry of the Environment.
NAN reports that TNP, which is operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), is evacuating crude oil from the oil field to the Bonny Crude Oil Export Terminal.
SPDC spokesperson, Michael Adande, said in a statement that there was a fire incident on the Rumuekpe-Nkpoku trunk line in Rivers and efforts are being made to extinguish the fire.
“The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has confirmed that a fire has occurred today, Friday, March 3, 2023, on the Rumuekpe – Nkpoku Trunk Line in Rivers State.
“Our technical team is cooperating with relevant government agencies to extinguish the fire. Furthermore, an investigation into the incident by a government-led joint investigation team will begin to determine the cause of the incident. SPDC stated