No respite from violence for Nigeria

Ongoing militant activity in the Niger Delta over the weekend necessitated the halting of operations of the Kaduna Refinery. Also on Sunday, militants blew up a pipeline operated by Eni subsidiary Nigerian Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa state for the second time in a week.

The pipeline attack on the conduit operated by Eni’s local subsidiary comes mere days after a group called the Red Egbesu Water Lions sabotaged the pipeline, affecting 1,000 bopd in production. According to local media, Sunday’s attack was a result of rivalling factions vying for control of the section, better known as the Tebidaba-Brass trunkline.

Nigerian media also reported that the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company has had to halt operations at its facility due to supply disruptions. In effect since Tuesday, local sources say the refinery could come back on line as soon as crude flows resume. The facility had been in operation since late April.

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