By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has said that investigations into two oil leaks at AGIP’s oilfields in Bayelsa confirmed that they were caused by vandalism.
The two incidents occurred in Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor Local Government Areas of the state.
Mr Idris Musa, the Director-General of the agency, while speaking in Yenagoa, said that the agency concluded Joint Investigation Visits (JIVs) to the Bayelsa oil leak sites last week.
He said a leakage at the six-inch Azuzuama-Tebidaba flow line at Ikebiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area was traced to third-party interference, adding that the incident, suspected to be the handiwork of oil thieves, occurred on June 13, while the JIV was conducted on June 14.
He said also that an estimated eight barrels of crude oil were discharged into the environment as a result of the interference.
“Area of impact was inside and outside the company’s right-of-way where the vegetation was impacted and repairs effected,” he said.
Mr Musa said the second incident occurred at AGIP’s 6-inch Tuom-Ogboinbiri pipeline at Ayamasa in Ekeremor Local Government Area.
“Hacksaw cuts were seen at three different points on the pipeline just as wraps of different materials were used around the different cuts by unknown persons.
“The second point was about 35 meters apart from the first point, while the third point was across a major River,” the NOSDRA DG stated.
Vandalism has led to the country’s oil production dwindling over the last few years, for the last few months, the country has not been able to meet production cuts outlined by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers, known as OPEC+
Modupe Gbadeyanka