Escravos gas pipeline closure won’t affect electricity supply — NNPC 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, stated that the latest closure of the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline, ELP, for repairs following an explosion, would not affect power supply across the country.

The NNPC, in a statement in Abuja, said its Group Managing Director, Mr. Maikanti Baru, had directed that an alternative pipeline be re-streamed immediately to ensure gas supply to power plants in parts of the country is not disrupted. It said, routine gas supply for power generation is not affected by the fresh fire incident which engulfed a segment of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS).

“Already, gas supply into the network via alternative sources has been ramped up ahead of ongoing repair works on the affected segment as directed by the GMD. The strategic Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System was affected by a fire at a segment along Egbokodo-Omadino, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State in the early hours of Thursday.

“Apart from being the main source of gas supply to some crucial power plants, ELPS feeds the West Africa Gas Pipeline System.” The NNPC, had on Thursday, announced another closure of the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline, ELP, due to an explosion on the facility. This latest closure came less than a week after the pipeline was reopened after repair works was concluded on it.

Following the latest closure, Baru, had directed that repair works be executed immediately on the pipeline to ensure that gas supply is restored on the same day. Baru had said the pipeline was ruptured by an explosion along Egbokodo-Omadino, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State. He 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.