A fresh explosion has again ruptured the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline (ELP) along Egbokodo-Omadino, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State to restore supplies from Escravos.
The attack is coming barely few days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced the restoration of the pipeline incinerated by a bush fire January 2, which cut gas supply to some power plant forcing the collapse of the national grid.
However, NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, has ordered immediate repairs of the pipeline directing that gas supply from other sources be stepped up to augment any shortfalls.
The Group General Manger, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, quoted the NNPC boss to have “directed that gas supply from other sources like Oben, Oredo, Sapele, Ughelli and Utorogu be stepped up to augment any shortfalls as repair works have commenced on the pipeline.”
The Escravos pipeline supplies gas to power plants, in addition to feeding the West Africa Gas Pipeline System.
It should be recalled that ELPS-C (downstream) of this pipeline was incinerated by a bush fire January 2 at Abakila, in Ondo State, which had since been rectified and brought back to service.
The earlier fire incident had affected gas supply to customers in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State with subsequent shutdown of some power plants with a combined generating capacity of 1,143MW.
According to Ughamadu, the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) had earlier recovered 1,143MW following the restoration.
“Escravos-Lagos Pipeline (ELP) which came down last week as a result of a fire incident has been restored and gas supply to customers on the line including power generating companies resumed,” the statement read.
He further stated that with the restoration of the ELP and resumption of gas supply, the affected power plants with a combined generating capacity of 1,143 megawatts, MW, would resume power generation.
Ughamadu identified the affected power plants as: Egbin Power Plant in Lagos State; Olorunshogo Power Plant, PEL Olorunshogo and Paras Power Plant in Ogun State; and Omotosho Power Plant in Ondo State.
He added that a section of the ELP at Abakila in Ondo State, had went up in flames on January 2, 2018 as a result of bush fire, affecting gas supply to customers in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States with subsequent shutdown of a number of power plants.
He further said that the 36-inch Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) is a natural gas pipeline built in 1989 to supply gas from Escravos in the Niger Delta to various consumption utilization areas.
