Explosion Hits Escarvos-Lagos Gas Pipeline Again

An explosion ruptured a major Nigerian gas pipeline on Thursday, days after the same line was repaired.

The Escarvos-Lagos Pipeline was hit by an explosion along Egbokodo-Omadino in the Warri region of Delta state, the state oil firm, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, said in a statement.

The NNPC did not say whether gas distribution had already been impacted, but added that supplies from other sources would be increased to offset any shortfalls as repair works commence.

The pipeline supplies gas to plants producing about one-sixth of Nigeria’s power, as well as the West Africa Gas Pipeline System. It had just come back online following damage from a fire that shut it down earlier this month.

Blackouts in Nigeria are common and many businesses and households are forced to rely on their own power generators. The less wealthy often go without electricity during blackouts.

The country’s dilapidated power grid is often blamed for hobbling growth in Africa’s largest economy.