- Fire damaged the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP) on March 17, 2025, with authorities containing the situation but no precise details on the damage.
- Shell shut down the pipeline after the incident, days after Renaissance Africa Energy took control following the acquisition of Shell’s onshore assets.
- Frequent oil spills and sabotage in the Niger Delta continue to harm local communities, raising concerns about environmental and economic impacts.
A fire damaged the Trans Niger Delta Pipeline (TNP), one of Nigeria’s key oil pipelines. Rivers State police discovered the fire during a night patrol between the Kpor and Bodo communities in the Niger Delta. Authorities swiftly contained the situation, but the extent of material and environmental damage remains unclear.
The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which operates the pipeline, responded quickly after receiving the alert and shut down the pipeline to prevent further risks. Police confirmed control over the fire but provided no additional details about the damage.
The Trans Niger Delta Pipeline plays a critical role in transporting crude oil from southern Nigeria’s onshore fields to the Bonny export terminal. This fire follows the recent transfer of control over the pipeline to Renaissance Africa Energy, a consortium led by Petrolin and businessman Samuel Dossou-Aworet. The transfer came after the consortium acquired Shell’s onshore assets.
Frequent oil spills and sabotage plague the Niger Delta region, often resulting from poor pipeline maintenance or vandalism—armed groups or residents who siphon oil for illegal refining account for many incidents. The Nigerian National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) recorded nearly 3,870 oil spills between 2018 and 2023. These spills continue to cause significant environmental and economic harm.
Despite its wealth in oil, the Niger Delta struggles with widespread poverty. Local communities frequently blame oil companies for neglecting environmental issues and demand accountability. Pollution and repeated oil spills have devastated fishing and farming lands, worsening residents’ economic hardships.
The Bodo community, affected by the recent fire, has been pursuing legal action against Shell over oil spills since 2008. The case, still ongoing in British courts, remains unresolved. Oil spills in the area have severely damaged the community’s fishing and agriculture sectors, compounding their economic struggles.
As investigations into the fire continue, concerns about environmental damage grow. Renaissance Africa Energy, the pipeline’s new operators, must address these challenges as they take over the management of this critical infrastructure.
This latest fire underscores the Niger Delta’s vulnerability to oil-related disasters. While the region holds immense natural resources, mismanagement and negligence continue to create environmental crises, leaving local communities to face severe consequences.