10th July, 2015
A total of 12 oil workers died in a pipeline explosion which occurred on Thursday afternoon at Agip’s oil fields in Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa, according to a statement.
The statement issued by Mr Filipo Cotalini, a spokesman for Eni, the parent company of NAOC, on Friday in Yenagos, said that three others were injured in the explosion at an oil spill site.
It said that the cause of the explosion was being investigated by a team comprising officials of NAOC, representatives of the host community and the Bayelsa Ministry of Environment.
“The cause of an explosion which occurred yesterday, 9 July, late in the afternoon, at the site of the repair works of the Tebidaba-Clough Creek line, an oil pipeline in Nigeria’s onshore Niger Delta, previously damaged by acts of sabotage, was under investigation.
“The explosion resulted in the death of 12 members of the maintenance team of a local company of services, with three others also injured.
“The cause of the incident is still under investigation by both Eni and the local authorities.
“The company expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those involved in this tragic accident,” the statement said.