Yeye residents tensed as fire guts Trans-Forcados pipeline in Delta

There was serious tension in Yeye community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State in the early hours of Monday as fire gutted the Trans-Forcados oil pipeline within the Chanomi creeks.

The Trans-Forcados pipeline is purportedly operated by Heritage Energy Operational Services.

Details of the fire outbreak is still sketchy as at the time of filing this report.

The Chairman of Yeye community, Pastor Phillip Fianka, at about 12:42am, raised the alarm in a text message he sent to our correspondent.

The text message reads,”Happening now, there is a severe Fire Outbreak in Transforcados pipeline (TFP) Chanomi Axis Yeye Community.”

A Chartered Peace Reconciliator in the Niger Delta region, Amb. (Chief) Evans Etimigba said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

However, residents of Yeye community are tensed that the fire might spread to other parts of the community.

They called on the relevant government agencies, particularly the fire service, to come quickly and save the situation.

The Management of Heritage Energy Operational Services, HEOSL, has confirmed the fire on the Trans-Forcados pipeline in Chanomi Creeks in Yeye Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

HEOSL General Manager, Community Relations, Mr.Sylvester Okoh made the confirmation in a chat with DAILY POST.

He disclosed that the fire occurred at a crude oil spill site along the pipeline

According to Okoh, “At about 2300hrs on 19 May 2019, a fire incident was reported at the crude oil spill site along the TF pipeline around Yeye community. It was gathered that the fire occurred due to excessive heat from a pumping machine which was being used to transfer crude oil from the spill site into a barge.”

He explained further that, “the fire was reported to have destroyed some equipment at the scene. The houseboat and gunboats were safely relocated from the scene of the fire incident.”