PHRC Engages Host Communities On Pipeline Safety

In a bid to curb the incessant spate of vandalism in its catchment areas, the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), says it had been engaging host communities on pipeline safety, and had set up surveillance team to Police the areas.

The PHRC Deputy Manager, Safety Mr. Uche Nna who made the disclosure during a sensitization of the people in its catchment areas on the dangers of pipeline vandalism in Eleme, Rivers State recently, noted that despite the company’s effort, the rate of vandalism was still very high adding that between PHRC pipeline outlets through Okrika to jetty, they have several breakages daily.

“The local government chairman, (Okrika) has been doing so well recently, trying to ensure that structures that are along that line are being cleared”, Nna pointed out, explaining that some people had built structures along the pipelines where they could easily lay pipes underneath to tap oil unnoticed.

According to him the Company had many pipelines passing through the community to the jetty where the bulk of production of oil was pumped into ships.

He added that the Pipeline Right of Way (ROW) established by Governor Chibuike Amaechi was another measure to check pipeline vandalism.

He said the ROW comprised PHRC, Shell, AGIP and other companies whose pipelines run through the 23 local government areas with the State Ministry of Envrionment coordinating.

He explained further that they have “got to a stage where we identify and mark those structures so that as soon as the state government comes in with the Chairman of local government area, we will remove those structures. As we are removing, the strcutres, then the oil companies will quickly recover their right of way”.

He said that apart from the fact that the pipelines were vandalized, the vandalism could clear a whole community.

His words: “Once they vandalise the pipeline, if there is no fire coming from dowser strikes or coming from any other source of fire, all the materials, that is the Petroleum products, will find their way to the aquifer.

As soon as they found their way to aquifer, the eco-system is altered, you will have the underground water contaminated; you will have soil pollution. And to remediate and recover those surfaces and take them out of water is quite a lot.

He warned that if care was not taken and it gets down to the Bonny Basin, it means the whole place would be a real issue which calls for real concern.

Corroborating the rising spate of pipeline vandalism, the Deputy Manger, Community Relations of PHRC, Mrs Edith Johnson said vandalism seemed to be on the increase explaining that the high rate promoted the company to embark on the sensitization campaign.

She said the dangers of pipeline vandalism include pipeline fire, pollution of the environment, loss of lives and economic sabotage.

She disclosed that the enlightenment campaign would be carried out at Okrika, Elele, Port Harcourt depot areas, trailer parks and other flash points in the area.