Chisaa Okoye (Business Reporter)

Barely a week after a major explosion rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, in Gokana area of Rivers State, another blast has occurred at a pipeline operated by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru local government area of the State.

The explosion has raised concerns of imminent disruptions to gas supply from the facility and its overall impact on domestic supply and exports.

Although the cause of the blast, which reportedly occurred around 9:15 pm on Saturday is yet to be ascertained, the affected pipeline is said to connect the Soku Gas Plant, operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company, the buyers of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to Abua/Odual Local Government Area.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, confirmed the blast, stating that its One Million Youth Volunteers Network of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters in the Niger Delta and Crude Oil Spill Alert System Network received early reports of the explosion.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, the group narrated the severity of the latest explosion.

“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” the statement noted.

This latest explosion was the third on oil facilities in Rivers State within one week. The first was recorded in Ogoni, while the second explosion happened in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, YEAC-Nigeria has called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a joint investigation visit (JIV) to determine the root cause of the Soku explosion and ensure accountability.

“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” the statement added.

About a fortnight ago, Taleveras won a legal battle in a London court against NLNG for non-delivery of cargoes. The court case, will see two trading houses Vitol and Glencore receive $380 million in compensation from their gas supplier (Taleveras).