Nigerian oil consortium, Renaissance Group, has reported an explosion on its Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Rivers State. The company has dispatched a team to investigate the incident.
The blast occurred on Monday night in the Bodo community of Gokana Local Government Area and was confirmed by the group’s spokesperson, Tony Okonedo, on Tuesday.
The Trans Niger Pipeline, with a capacity of approximately 450,000 barrels per day, is a critical oil transportation route that moves crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal.
Renaissance Group, which operates the pipeline, took over Shell’s former onshore assets in Nigeria few days ago.
The Group includes Nigerian exploration and production companies Aradel Energy, First E&P, Waltersmith, and ND Western along with the international energy firm Petroline.
While the extent of the damage remains unclear, Okonedo stated that a joint investigation team has been deployed to assess the situation.
“We have sent a team to the site to gather more details on the incident,” he said.
He, however, did not confirm whether crude oil flow had been disrupted or if there were any casualties.
Moreover, the explosion has raised environmental concerns, especially among local advocacy groups.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), an environmental organization monitoring oil-related incidents, reported that the blast occurred late Monday night, affecting parts of the Bodo community.
Oil spills and pipeline incidents are frequent in the Niger Delta, often attributed to pipeline vandalism, oil theft, or equipment failure.
While Renaissance Group has yet to disclose the cause of the explosion, past incidents in the region have led to environmental degradation and loss of livelihoods for host communities.
Local authorities and security agencies are expected to collaborate in the investigation, with further updates anticipated in the coming days.
