Total Blames Obagi–Rumuekpe Pipeline Spill On Sabotage

The oil spill which resulted
in the suspension of onshore crude export through Obagi – Rumuekpe pipeline has at last been discovered to be as a result of sabotage by an unknown third party.
The General Manager, Onshore Production, Total  Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (PEPNL), Dr Abdulah Inuwa, said a joint assessment team which included the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and other regulatory parties had agreed that the spill was caused by third-party activity.
A statement signed by the Deputy General Manager, Media and Public Affairs of TEPNL Mr Charles Ogan said the spill was discovered on August 16,2015 when oil expected from Obagi, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers  State could not be received at Rumuekpe end of the meeting station.
Inuwa, who led officials of TEPNL and journalists, Thursday to the site explained that an object was used to hit the pipeline at two different locations to force out oil, resulting in the unfortunate spill.
He further explained that out of the point, a drill was sued to perforate the pipe and that the contractors responsible for protection of the pipeline, could be sanctioned.
According to him, “the oil spill was jointly assessed and this is as a result of third party interference. We have the document from the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and we all agreed that it was a third party interference.
“Something was used to hit the pipeline deep down, so that the oil can come out. This is one of the locations; they are two locations. At the other one, it was like a drill was used to perforate the pipe”.
The Tide correspondent reports that when the team arrived at Rumuekpe Community River to ascertain the extent of the spill and also know how the spill could be controlled, youths of the community stopped the team from entering the River.
One of the youths whose identity was not made known to press said, “any attempt to enter the River would spell doom.
“I am a professional driver and most of us could work in Total but, we are not given any opportunity to work even when we are oil producing and oil bearing community,” said the unidentified youth.
According to our correspondent, to avoid escalation of violence, the journalists, and other partners including security officials had no option than to leave the area.
Meanwhile, at Idioku Community affected by the spill, Total mobilized tankers to distribute drinking water to the natives, since the River, their main source of potable water, had been polluted by the spill.

Chris Oluoh