LAGOS, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Shell Nigeria said onWednesday it had shut down its Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) owingto reports of leaks, deferring 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) ofcrude oil just 10 days after the pipeline was re-opened.
"The latest leaks were reported at B-Dere, Nonwa-Tai, andBodo West, all in Ogoniland. (Shell Nigeria) shut the line as aprecautionary measure ... and has also mobilised a spillresponse team," Shell Nigeria spokesman Precious Okolobo said inan email to Reuters.
He added the cause of the leak was under investigation.
The company blamed the previous shutdown of the TNP onpipeline vandalism by oil thieves. That one led Shell to declareforce majeure on its Bonny Light crude and on gas supplied tothe Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company on Sept 23.
The pipeline was re-opened again on Sept. 30, which enabledthe force majeure on crude to be lifted last Friday - and theone on gas on Monday.
Africa's biggest oil exporter has been producing around 15percent below its 2.5 million bpd (bpd) capacity this year dueto widespread oil theft and leakages from ageing pipelines.
Shell blames oil thieves for almost all leakages, althoughenvironmental campaigners say a failure to replace its decrepit50-year-old equipment are as much to blame as sabotage.