Eni, the Italian parent company of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) says it has lifted the ‘Force Majeure’ after repairing the vandalised 4-inch gas line at Okaka in Yenagoa, Southern Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement on Friday evening, Eni cited that normalcy has returned to its gas export operations.
In the past months, vandalism has affected Nigeria’s electricity distribution and oil production value chains as productions in some crude wells have been reduced to as low as 20% of output.
Eni stated that it lifted the ‘Force Majeure’, on its gas operations which halted gas export feed to the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) by 5 million Standard Cubic Meters per day (MMSCM/d) at the 24-inch gas line at Okaka in Yenagoa.
It further added that normalcy has returned to its gas export operations, following the restoration of the Ogboinbiri to Obiafu/Obrikom gas pipeline at Okaka in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, after it was vandalized by third-party interference on April 5.
The statement read in part, “Force majeure was lifted at Bonny NLNG on April 13. It was declared on April 6.”
Force Majeure is a legal clause inserted in contracts to protect suppliers from liabilities due to circumstances beyond their control.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, Idris Musa revealed that investigations traced the incidents to sabotage by vandals.
It was earlier reported that the company shut all gas wells that feed the line to douse pressure and pave way for repairs which were completed on April 8.
The company said, “A gas leak incident due to third-party interference occurred on 5th April along 24’ Ogbainbiri to Obiafu/Obrikom Gas pipeline at Okaka in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.”
