| A pipeline carrying crude oil across the unruly Niger delta region to Nigeria's main export terminal has burst and is on fire, Shell and a local leader said on Tuesday. The 70cm Trans-Niger pipeline carrying crude from wells in southern Nigeria to Shell's Bonny oil export terminal was reported to be leaking on Monday, company officials said. "We sent a team of experts to cap the leak but were prevented by youths in the community," a Shell spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity. But a local ethnic leader insisted that the firm's engineers had not yet arrived, but simply flown over the area in a helicopter. "Up until the time I am speaking to you nothing has been done about it. Containment measures have not been taken," he said, denying there had been any local protest to prevent Shell gaining access to the site. |