Explosion rocks Trans-Niger Pipeline in Nigeria

On the night of March 17 to 18, an explosion caused significant damage to the Trans-Niger Pipeline in Bodo, located in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. 

The affected section of the major pipeline is currently on fire, though the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown at this time, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear, with authorities yet to confirm whether it resulted from human interference. However, the timing of the incident, following recent threats by militant groups, raises concerns. These groups had vowed to target oil installations in retaliation for the Federal Government’s decision to withhold Rivers State’s allocation amidst ongoing political tensions.

While emergency response teams have been deployed to control the fire, the full extent of the damage and any potential casualties remain undetermined. The Federal Government and local authorities have yet to provide an official statement on the incident.

The Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), which has a capacity of around 450,000 barrels per day, is a major oil artery that transports crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal.

The Pipeline is one of Nigeria's critical oil export routes, and any disruption in its operations could have significant implications for the country’s oil exports.

By Khagan Isayev