Oil export under threat as fire guts Trans Forcados Pipeline spill site in Delta
Explosion followed by massive inferno Monday engulfed a spilled site along the Trans Forcados Pipeline within the Chanomi Creeks in Yeye community of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.
Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, operator of the crude pipeline, confirmed the incident to the newsmen in Warri.
The General Manager, Community Relations, Mr Sylvester Okoh, revealed that “At about 11:00 pm on May 19, 2019, a fire incident was reported at the crude oil spill site along the Trans Forcados pipeline around Yeye community.
“It was gathered that the fire occurred due to excessive heat from a pumping machine which was being used to transfer crude oil from the spill site into a barge.
According to him, “The fire was reported to have destroyed some equipment at the scene. The houseboat and gunboats were safely relocated from the scene of the fire incident.”
Whereas efforts to put out the fire is ongoing, an official of the Chartered Peace Reconciliator in the Niger Delta, Mr Evans Etimigba, has expressed fear that the fire might probably spread to other parts of the community if not contained on time by relevant authorities.
Efforts to reach NNPC at press time failed.
