Oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC has shut down the Obigbo gas plant in Rivers State, over it termed encroachment on the firm’s right-of-way of gas pipelines.
The company said the decision to shut down the facility was taken on November 1, 2013, following the discovery that different types of buildings and structures have been erected on high pressure gas pipelines thereby exposing the occupants to considerable health and safety risk.
Shell, in a statement issued and signed by its spokesman Mr. Precious Okolobo said some 40 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMscf/d) is shut in, while supply to industrial consumers and power plants has been affected.
The statement further said that the decision to shut down the gas plant was in the interest of public safety, as the buildings and structures, being directly above buried high pressure gas lines violate the pipeline design conditions and pose an unacceptable safety risk to the occupants.
According to the statement, “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) operated Joint Venture has shut down the Obigbo gas plant in Rivers State due to encroachment on the right-of-way of gas pipelines.
“The company took the action on November 1, 2013 on discovering that different types of buildings and structures have been erected on high pressure gas pipelines thereby exposing the occupants to considerable health and safety risk.
“Some 40 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMscf/d) is shut in, and supply to industrial consumers and power plants has been affected.
“SPDC JV reiterated that it took the shutdown decision in the interest of public safety, as the buildings and structures, being directly above buried high pressure gas lines violate the pipeline design conditions and pose an unacceptable safety risk to the occupants,” it said.
Shell expressed worry that people have continually ignored repeated warnings and enlightenment in Rivers and Bayelsa states, to refrain from erecting structures on the right-of-way of pipelines, adding that it was working with the State Government to address the issue
“SPDC JV is working with the Rivers State Government on options to address the challenge. In 2011, the company embarked on an enlightenment campaign in Rivers and Bayelsa states highlighting the dangers of encroaching on the right–of-way of pipelines and facilities.
“The latest phase of the campaign began on radio and television stations in the two states this month,” the statement read.