Another blast hits Chevron facility in Delta

Another explosion rocked a Chevron oil pipeline in Delta State yesterday, the second at a facility of the United States firm in the last one week.

The explosion is likely to further worsen Nigeria’s crude supplies to the refineries.

There have been renewed militant activities, particularly against oil facilities, in recent times and this has reduced Nigeria’s output by 300,000 barrels per day and closed a major export port.

Last week, militants calling themselves the Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility for an attack on a Chevron Platform in the same area.

The group, claiming to be fighting for the independence of the Niger Delta, has warned oil firms to leave the region within two weeks, saying it wanted a greater share of oil revenues and an end to oil pollution.

The attacks have brought Nigeria’s oil output to near a 22-year low and any further attacks could cripple output in a country already facing economic crisis.

Navy spokesman, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, confirmed yesterday’s blast at a Chevron oil well at the Marakaba pipeline in Warri, but added that no arrest had been made.