Shell, one of the world’s leading oil companies, is conducting an investigation following reports of smoke and explosions near its Gbaran Ubie oil and gas facility in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Early on Tuesday, residents near the facility reported hearing loud explosions and observed thick smoke emanating from the area, raising concerns about the safety of the nearby communities and the integrity of the facility.
Since its inception in 2010, the Gbaran Ubie facility has been an essential part of Nigeria’s LNG gas feedstock project, processing up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily. A Shell representative promised that the event would not immediately impact the facility’s operations, despite the residents’ concerned concerns.
Local reports state that the disruptions started at approximately 0600 GMT. Nearby residents of the facility reported hearing explosions that corresponded with ongoing pipeline maintenance, which may have something to do with the loudness and smoke that they saw. Ovie Ogbuku, a local, told Reuters, “I heard a sound so thunderous that it shook the foundation of the earth, and we rushed for our lives at approximately 7 a.m.” The aftermath of the explosion was visible as thick smoke filled the sky, prompting concerns and fear among the local populace.
In response, Shell started a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances. “We are keeping an eye out for reports of smoke found close to our Bayelsa State Gbaran Central Processing Facility. According to a Shell official, “We are in close communication with regulatory authorities to investigate the event and protect the safety of the surrounding community, even though the source appears to be exterior to our site.”
Some locals are frustrated and impatient for answers because the firm has not yet directly responded to their first-hand accounts. Another resident, Uche Ede, expressed relief that no one was killed, pointing out that the explosion occurred well away from residential areas. “Although the reason of the explosion is unknown, we are thankful that no lives were lost because it happened so far away from homes,” Ede mentioned.
The Gbaran Ubie event brings to light the persistent difficulties in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, where theft, vandalism, and sabotage regularly cause disruptions to land operations. Numerous oil companies have been forced by these problems to refocus their attention from high-risk onshore fields to safer deepwater drilling regions.
The incident highlights the delicate relationship between Nigeria’s economic reliance on oil and gas production and the environmental and security concerns that go along with it, as Shell conducts its inquiry into the cause of the smoke and reported explosions. The results of Shell’s investigations will be critical in deciding how to improve safety protocols at the site and for the region’s larger industry operations.
