(Uche Usim – ABUJA)
Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, on Wednesday, ordered a thorough assessment of the damage caused by fire on the Escarvos to Lagos Pipeline (ELP), a natural gas pipeline which supplies gas from Escravos region of the Niger Delta to Lagos State.
The pipeline, built in 1989, also supplies gas to power plants in the South West, in addition to feeding the West Africa Gas Pipeline System.
The fire incident, which occurred two days ago, was suspected to have been caused by a bush fire at Abakila, in Ondo State.
NNPC firemen, according to the GMD, were drafted to the scene and were able to contain the fire from the leak point of the pipeline incident.
“However, the fire could not be extinguished due to the high pressure of the line. To put off the fire, the line would require being isolated and depressurized, which might lead to a complete shutdown of the pipeline segment for repair works to be carried out.
“The exercise will affect gas supply to customers in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State with subsequent shutdown of the following power plants with a combined generating capacity of 1,143MW: Egbin, Lagos, Olorunshogo, PEL Olorunshogo, Ogun, Paras Power Plant, Ogun and Omotosho plant, Ondo State”, Baru said.