NUPRC Launches Investigation Into Gas Seepage In Bille Community, Assures Remedy
By Sunday Etuka
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says it has launched an investigation into the gas bubbling incident in Bille Community, Rivers State.
Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said the Commission is working collaboratively with all the relevant stakeholders to address the situation.
She stated that the Commission empathised with the community and acknowledged the concerns that the unsavoury development has raised in relation to public safety, the environment, and the health of the populace.
Noting that the overall well-being of the communities and the protection of the environment remain paramount to the Commission, as they are to the Government.
Mrs. Eyesan explained that upon notification of the incident, the Commission activated a coordinated technical investigation process in line with established regulatory protocols to assess the nature and extent of the gas seepage, identify source(s) and potential cause(s), and propose immediate and long-term mitigation measures.
She noted that the investigative Study was being conducted in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure comprehensive, fact-based outcomes for long-term sustainability.
Adding that preliminary deductions and field observations indicate that the gas bubbling may be associated with a subsurface phenomenon that could be linked to a variety of triggers.
She mentioned that detailed geotechnical and geological analyses are ongoing to determine the contributing factor(s) and possible remedies for prompt implementation.
The CCE assures the Bille Community of the Commission’s resolve to ensure that necessary actions required to address the situation are taken in line with applicable regulations, industry standards and global best practices.
“Once again, the Commission commiserates with the Bille Community as we work assiduously with all stakeholders to unravel the incident, and enjoins members of the community to maintain the commendable level of responsibility whilst adhering to all safety measures and public health advisories issued by the relevant authorities,” she said in the statement.
