The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Nigeria LNG Limited have continued to trade blames in respect of the pipeline explosion allegedly caused by Integrated Data Services Limited, an NNPC subsidiary, Thisday reports
According to a statement by NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations Division, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, there was an explosion on one of its gas transmission systems few kilometres from Rumuji in Rivers State.
In his words: “An explosion occurred in the afternoon of Wednesday, 22nd February 2017 on a section of the Right of Way housing two gas transmission pipelines, one of which belongs to Nigeria LNG, about 3 kilometres from Rumuji in Rivers State,”
The NLNG alleged that the possible cause of the incident could be traced to the activities by Integrated Data Services Limited that involved use of dynamites and grenades around the area.
On the other hand, Integrated Data Services Limited said they were not in any way responsible for the explosion. Also, their parent company, the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation was of the opinion that the allegation was baseless reason being that IDSL observed the required safe distance standards as contained in DPR’s regulations.
IDSLA maintained that their crew on operation observed to the letter all DPR’s regulations governing their activities which include: maintaining a minimum distance of 100 metres from pipelines, and a minimum distance of 200 metres from well heads or oil wells. Hence, there was no basis for them to be blamed for explosions that took place 798 metres away from their crew.
However, NLNG says it has commenced investigation so as to find out the exact cause of the incident and promised to make their findings public.
The explosion will in no doubt affect Nigeria’s earnings and that seems not a good news at this time when the economy is just picking up. Also, reputable companies like NLNG and NNPC should lean to do things the right way. They should wait for the outcome of whatever investigation they are carrying out and stop feeding people with allegations and counter allegations that are based on assumptions.