Pipeline blast hits oil supplies in Nigeria

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L18723718.htm

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, March 18 (Reuters) - Unidentified attackers blew up an oil pipeline in Nigeria's southern delta, further hitting oil supplies from the leading OPEC nation, authorities said on Saturday.

The blast on the Tebidaba-Brass pipeline near Brass Terminal, both operated by Italian oil company Agip, was the latest in a series of attacks on oil installations in the eighth biggest oil-exporting country, which had already reduced supplies by almost a quarter.

Agip, a unit of ENI, confirmed an "act of sabotage" on the pipeline and said an unspecified quantity of production had been lost. One oil industry source said production of 67,000 barrels per day (bpd) had been cut. snip

Militants demanding greater autonomy for Nigeria's poor oil heartland have carried out several attacks and kidnapped oil workers in the past three months.

[cliss]

1. This area of Africa is like a burning fuse.

It's very volatile right now. If I were an oil worker, I'd get the hell out. Recently, African militants took about 9 people hostage; 3 of those were Americans. I don't know what happened to them, but

it's time to get out. That's what our addiction to oil causes.

[Mika]

2. Oil speculators making a bundle, I bet. (not to mention big oil) n/t