An explosion on Thursday ruptured a major pipeline of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
However, the cause of the explosion was not stated in a statement issued by the spokesman of the NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu.
Ughamadu, however, said the corporation’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, had directed that repair works be carried out immediately on the pipeline, the Escarvos to Lagos Pipeline.
The pipeline was ruptured by an explosion on along Egbokodo-Omadino in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Ughamadu said: “Dr 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.
“It should be recalled that ELPS-C (downstream) of this pipeline was incinerated by a bush fire January 2, at Abakila, in Ondo State, which
has since been rectified and brought back to service.”
The earlier fire incident had affected gas supply to customers in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States with subsequent shutdown of some power plants with a combined generating capacity of 1,143MW.