TheCable

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says a third-party interference was responsible for a gas leak at the Sangama community in Bonny LGA of Rivers state.

The gas facility, which belongs to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC), Well 6, started leaking on September 3.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer, NUPRC, disclosed that efforts are being made alongside other relevant agencies to stop the leak.

The commission said a joint investigation visit (JIV) to the site observed that the gas leak was from a valve on the wellhead initiated by a third-party interference. 

“A Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) was carried out on September 11 by a team from NUPRC, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Rivers state ministry of environment, as well as community representatives, with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) in attendance,” the statement reads.

“During the JIV, the team observed a gas leak from one of the valves on the wellhead. A closer look revealed that the Anode valve on the wellhead had been tampered with. It was adjudged by the regulators to have been caused by third-party interference. 

“However, the community did not agree with the regulators and as a result would not sign the joint investigation report in spite of the technical explanation by the team.

“This prompted the team to reconvene on September 15, 2022, when, after an extensive discussion, all stakeholders eventually signed the incident report.”

NUPRC, however, said efforts are ongoing to prevent further leakage, repair the damage and ensure that the development does not in any way affect the health and social lives of the people.

On Monday, another gas leak occurred in Azikoro, a community in Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa state. Residents said they heard a loud bang before the gas started leaking from a pipeline.