Source: This Day (Lagos), October 24, 2005

by Segun James

Unknown arsonists yesterday set the pipeline that supplies crude oil from the Escravos Terminal to the Warri Refinery, on fire, a situation which might lead to the closure of the refinery if the stock pile of crude oil in its reservoir finishes.

The 24-inch pipeline which is operated by the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), the subsidiary of the NNPC supplies both the Warri refinery and the Kaduna Refinery with crude, was still on fire as at the time of this report.

THISDAY gathered that at about midnight Sunday, a loud explosion was heard and fire started raging at the point near Escravos .

Aerial view by officials of the Chevron Nigeria Limited, the company which supply the refinery with the crude showed that it happened on the pipeline Right of way (ROW) belonging to Chevron/PPMC. THISDAY gathered that as soon as the daybroke, Chevron officials mobilized helicopters which hovered above the scene as it is suspected that the explosion could only have been caused by an act of sabotage.

It would be recalled that last week, the South-South Liberation Movement (SSLM), a militant Ijaw organization promised to precipitate economic havoc against the Federal Government if Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Alhaji Dokubo Asarui are not released.

The SSLM in a statement signed by it Delta State Coordinator, Mr. Bailbond ESABA also asked men of the State Security Service (SSS) to stop the man hunt on himself and other Ijaw youth leaders, failure of which they will begin an all out war with the federal government.

Contacted, Chevrons Communication Manager, Mrs. Edith Azinge confirmed the incident. She however said that the actual cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained.

Also contacted, the Public Affairs Manager, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), Mr. Lawrence Cobham refused to comment.

It would be recalled that an act of sabotage on this same line in 2003 at a point on the Chanomi creek led to the closure of the refinery for almost one and half years as Ijaw youth refused that the pipelines be repaired, this situation persisted even after the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) on the refinery until the PPMC came to terms with the Ijaw people.