Uche Usim, Abuja
Nine days after wild bush fire ruptured its Escravos To Lagos (ETL) Gas pipeline in Ondo State, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday recorded another pipeline damage along Egbokodo-Omadino, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Though the extent of damage has not been ascertained, the Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, has directed that repair works be carried immediately on the Escarvos to Lagos Pipeline (ELP) ruptured by an explosion today, to restore supplies to power generating companies and other gas consumers.
Baru further directed that gas supply from other sources like Oben, Oredo, Sapele, Ughelli and Utorogu be stepped up to augment any shortfalls as repair works have commenced on the pipeline.
“The Escravos pipeline supplies gas to power plants, in addition to feeding the West Africa Gas Pipeline System,” he said.
Earlier on January 2, the ELPS-C (downstream) of this pipeline was incinerated by a bush fire at Abakila, in Ondo State, which has since been rectified and brought back to service.
The earlier incident had affected gas supply to customers in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State with a subsequent shutdown of some power plants with a combined generating capacity of 1,143MW.