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LAGOS. –  Shell, the international oil company, has reopened the Trans-Niger pipeline, which it shut down two months ago because of vandalism.
Shell Nigeria spokesperson, Precious Okolobo said the pipeline had ben restored and processing the usual 15 000 barrels per day. Okolobo, however, said the force majeure declared in April on Nigeria’s benchmark Bonny Light crude oil grade remained in place.

Shell shut the TNP in July following a leak on the Bomu-Bonny section at Owokiri. It was established a six-inch crude theft valve being placed on the line caused the leak.

The closure came just days after Shell had reopened the line following an explosion and fire in June at a point that had been targeted by oil thieves at Bodo West in the Niger Delta’s Ogoniland.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company stated in July that it estimated the total daily loss from the TNP shutdown was about US$15 million.

The closure of the line also hit Nigeria’s domestic power generation, with SPDC being forced to shut down the Afam VI power plant due to a shortage of gas arising from the closure of the pipeline. – CAJ News.