Renaissance Energy has spended crude oil shipments through its Okordia-Rumuekpe pipeline in Nigeria’s coastal Rivers state following a spill detected early Monday.
The spill occurred in the Ikata community within the Ahoada East district, prompting the independent oil firm to announce a halt on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
Volunteers from the youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, were the first to report the incident, which disrupted the operations of the pipeline regarded as a crucial artery, transporting crude south to the Rumuekpe manifold for export via the Bonny terminal.
Renaissance, which operates the pipeline after acquiring a former Shell onshore subsidiary, has ceased production into the affected line and implemented measures to mitigate potential environmental impact, a company spokesperson said in a statement.
While Renaissance did not specify the cause or volume of the spill, YEAC-Nigeria suggested it was likely due to third-party interference. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, a YEAC-Nigeria director, stated that volunteers observed evidence of excavation and vandalism at the spill site.
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The company has notified government regulators and is collaborating with regulatory bodies and the local community on a joint investigation to determine the cause and extent of the damage.
Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger River delta is frequently impacted by oil spills and pipeline vandalism, leading to significant environmental damage, harming local communities and ecosystems, and disrupting oil production.
