Babatunji Wusu –
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No Explosion Reported: The Soku community dismissed claims circulating on social media about an explosion on gas pipelines along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji Right of Way.
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Fire Outbreak Confirmed, No Cause for Alarm: While a fire was reported on a gas pipeline operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), it did not affect the Soku Gas Plant, which remains fully operational.
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Community Leadership Response: Soku Community Development Committee Secretary, Witness Alasia, called the reports “false and misleading,” reassuring the public that the gas plant is safe.
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Shell’s Clarification: Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) also denied the explosion reports, noting that its assets in the area had been divested to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
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Security and Investigation: Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but community leaders assure that Soku and its surrounding areas remain peaceful.
Contrary to reports circulating on social media, the people of Soku in Rivers State have confirmed that no explosion occurred on gas pipelines in the region. The Soku oil and gas field, a critical component of Oil Mining Licence (OML) 23, is operated through a joint venture involving Eni, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL), Shell, and TotalEnergies.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Soku Community Development Committee Secretary Witness Alasia described the reports as “disheartening and untrue.” While acknowledging a fire outbreak on a pipeline, he emphasized that it posed no danger to the community or the Soku Gas Plant.
“The reports of an explosion at the Soku Gas Plant are completely false. The plant is in perfect working condition, and the public should disregard this misinformation,” Alasia stated. He explained that the affected pipeline is owned by NLNG and is responsible for transporting gas from the Soku Gas Plant to Bonny Island.
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) also refuted claims of an explosion. SPDC spokesperson Michael Adande confirmed that the Soku Gas Plant had not been affected by any incident. He also clarified that Shell’s assets in the region were recently divested to Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
“All is well at the Soku Gas Plant. If there were any issues with other facilities in the area, they should be addressed by the respective asset owners,” Adande stated.
While investigations into the fire outbreak continue, community leaders have reassured residents that Soku and its neighboring communities remain calm and secure.
