TNP Pipeline Resumes Operations
Crude oil transportation through the 180,000 b/d Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) to the Bonny export terminal has resumed after a fire caused by an attack earlier this week halted operations. As a result, the pipeline’s flow is back in service.
Renaissance Africa Takes Charge
Recently, the Renaissance Africa consortium took over the TNP and the Bonny terminal from Shell. The consortium announced that pipeline flows resumed on March 19 after completing integrity inspections, testing, and activating a second pipeline in the network. Consequently, operations are now back to normal.
Pipeline Specifications
Importantly, the last 20 kilometers of the 60-kilometer TNP, located between the Cawthorne Channel and the Bonny terminal, has separate 30-inch and 24-inch lines. However, Renaissance Africa has not specified which pipeline is currently active.
Loading Operations Update
Following the fire, operations at the Bonny terminal briefly disrupted, but loading has now resumed. A source from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) informed Argus that the Bryanston tanker began loading at 23:54 local time on March 19. Moreover, market observers indicated that loading operations were already up to two weeks behind schedule prior to the incident.
Upcoming Operations at the Terminal
Before the pipeline fire, the Bonny terminal had planned to pump 475,000 barrels of Bonny Light crude to NNPC’s 210,000 b/d Port Harcourt refinery. Additionally, the NNPCL managed a minor flare incident at the refinery on March 19, ensuring that the facility remains operational and continues producing refined petroleum products.
Security Concerns
Unfortunately, the TNP has faced frequent oil theft, vandalism, and sabotage. In response to these ongoing issues in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu appointed a former naval chief as the state’s sole administrator for the next six months.
Ongoing Activities in Rivers State
Despite these challenges, a Renaissance Africa source reported that drilling operations in Rivers State continue without interruption. Furthermore, an energy lawyer in Port Harcourt noted that both government and private business activities have remained normal throughout the situation.
Impact on Crude Output
It is too early to assess the pipeline incident’s impact on Nigeria’s crude output. Notably, production of Bonny Light crude reportedly fell by 14% month-on-month to 210,000 b/d in February, according to the upstream regulator NUPRC. Additionally, Renaissance Africa announced that a joint investigation visit, led by NUPRC, is set to take place soon.Get smarter answer from GPT-4o