[ad_1]
An explosion at an unlawful oil refinery between the southern Nigerian oil states of Rivers and Imo has killed no less than 80 folks, police and authorities officers mentioned on Sunday.
The blast occurred on late on Friday, police confirmed.
“The incident claimed a number of lives, particularly these engaged within the unlawful oil refining and bunkering,” mentioned Idris Musa, director common of Nigeria’s Nationwide Oil Spill Detection and Response Company.
What do we all know concerning the blast?
Greater than 100 folks, principally youths, may need died within the explosion and ensuing fireplace, media studies mentioned.
Though the explanation for the blast is unknown, it may need occurred in the course of the strategy of refining crude oil, which entails boiling it by way of fireplace.
Musa mentioned an investigation into the catastrophe was underway.
What occurs at unlawful oil refineries?
Oil thieves, vandals and unlawful refining operators siphon off some 200,000 barrels of crude oil each day in Nigeria, in response to trade operators.
The oil is tapped from an internet of pipelines owned by main oil firms and refined into merchandise in makeshift tanks on the unlawful refineries, which flourish amongst poverty that’s widespread regardless of the nation being the most important oil producer on the continent.
The refineries, scattered among the many creeks, swamps and waters of the oil-rich Niger Delta, should not solely liable to accidents but additionally trigger spills and air pollution.
Pipeline fires are additionally commonplace in Nigeria, partly due to poor upkeep but additionally as a result of they’re vandalized by thieves aiming to siphon off petrol and promote it on the black market.
A pipeline blast within the southern city of Jesse in October 1998 killed greater than 1,000 villagers, with the federal government blaming the catastrophe on such thieves, although native residents mentioned the pipeline was not maintained correctly.
Nigeria has a crude oil output of round two million barrels per day.
tj/aw (AFP, dpa)
[ad_2]
Source link