An explosion occurred on December 10 along the Escravos–Lagos gas pipeline in Delta State, disrupting gas supply to industrial users and power plants, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) confirmed. The blast, located near the Tebijor, Okpele and Ikpopo communities, followed a pressure drop consistent with a loss of containment. NNPC said, “The cause of the explosion is still unknown but would be confirmed after a detailed investigation has been concluded.”
NNPC said emergency response teams had been deployed, stressing that its priority is community safety and environmental protection. The incident came shortly after NNPC and Heirs Energies signed a deal to capture and utilize gas flared across OML 17 for power generation, LPG and CNG. Gas flaring remains a major challenge in Nigeria, with volumes rising 12% in 2024 the second-largest global increase, according to the World Bank.