Shell reopens Trans Niger pipeline

Anglo-Dutch  oilmajor, Shell, has reopened its 150,000 barrel per day Trans Niger pipeline (TNP) in Nigeria, which had been shut for nearly two months, Reuters said in a report on Monday.

Spokesperson of the company  was quoted as saying the pipeline was reopened on September 8, adding that the force majeure declared in April on Nigeria’s benchmark Bonny Light crude oil grade remained in place.

Shell shut in the TNP in July following a leak on the Bomu- Bonny section at Owokiri, which was found to be caused by a six-inch crude theft valve being placed on the line.

The shut in came just days after Shell had reopened the line following an explosion and fire in June at a point that had been targeted by oil thieves at Bodo West in the Ogoniland.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) stated in July that it estimated the total daily loss from the TNP shutdown to be roughly $15 million.

The closure of the line also hit Nigeria's domestic power generation, with SPDC being forced to shut down the Afam VI power plant due to a shortage of gas arising from the closure of the pipeline.