• Govt loses over N470m daily

• MEND ex-leaders deny militants’ complicity

MINISTRY of Power , Works and Housing yesterday raised the alarm over possible blackout in the country, as government counts its losses over the destruction of the major Escravos gas pipeline.

Meanwhile, former leaders of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, yesterday denied that militants from the region were responsible for the recent bomb attacks on oil and gas installations in Delta State, saying the attack was carried out by criminals.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser (Communications) to the minister, Hakeem Bello said the situation has negatively affected gas supply to some power plants, and also having a toll on other economic activities, particularly the cement industry.

Bello said the 600mw Olorunsogo National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) and other power plants were currently affected, adding that an estimated N470 million is lost daily on gas and electricity losses.

The statement added: “The sabotaged gas pipeline which contributes to the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) has led to a loss of 160mmsfcd of gas daily. At a cost of $2.50 per thousand scf, this loss means about $400,000 loss to the country on a daily basis (N78, 800,000 daily) in gas volume.

This is in addition to losses to be incurred daily from affected Power generation ($1,988,223 or N391, 680,000 daily). The total daily loss to the country is therefore estimated at N470, 479,931. Repair of the damaged pipeline is estimated as costing ($609,137 or N120, 000.000).

The latest incident has occurred just as the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources along with allied agencies have been making concerted efforts to improve gas supplies to the Power Plants. Such efforts led to previously offline plants like Ihovbor and Sapele coming back online and the subsequent output making up for the loss in power. The pipelines are being actively monitored for further attacks or other unforeseen impacts.

Speaking under the aegis of the Leadership Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), led by Chief Reuben Wilson popularly known as General Pastor, the ex-militants insisted that the claims against the frontline ex-militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and other ex-militant leaders were not true and misplaced.

He said those behind the attacks were criminal elements out to disrupt the peace in the region and pitch the Federal Government against the people of the region.