A massive explosion has struck a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Bodo Community, located in the Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The incident happened late Monday night near the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road construction site, causing a huge fire and thick black smoke to rise into the sky.
Eyewitnesses captured videos showing the flames rapidly spreading into the mangrove areas. The Trans Niger Pipeline is a key transport line that moves crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State, making this incident a significant development in Nigeria’s oil sector.
A representative from Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings, the company managing the pipeline, noted that they are responding to the situation. Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings recently took over the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria after finalizing a major acquisition deal.
Details about the explosion remain unclear, and authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause. Investigations are underway, with experts working to determine whether the incident was due to sabotage, equipment failure, or other factors. A media official from Renaissance, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated, “We don’t know if it is an explosion or not, but we are responding to the report of an incident in the operation. Our response is a regulator-led joint investigation team. We are not going to speculate.”
The explosion occurred close to the Bodo-Bonny Road, a project funded jointly by Nigeria LNG Limited and the Federal Government. The road construction is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
The TNP plays a critical role in Nigeria’s oil export system, transporting about 150,000 barrels of crude oil daily. With the fire still burning in the affected areas, local authorities and emergency responders are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further damage.
Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings is a consortium of Nigerian independent oil and gas companies, including ND Western Limited, Aradel Holdings Plc, FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited, and the Waltersmith Group. The group also includes Petrolin, an international energy firm with operations across Africa.
