Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the weekend resolved the impasse over the repair of the major gas pipeline that supply gas to the nation’s power plants as the contractor handling the damaged ESCRAVOS- LAGOS PIPELINE return to site Monday next week,

Governor Uduaghan said the repair of the pipeline, which conveys gas to Lagos, would help in meeting the target of 6000 megawatts that is expected to stabilize power supply by December 2009.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Warri today with Gbaramatu elders and chiefs. Officers of the Joint Task Force, JTF, the chairman of Warri South West LGA, Mr George Ekpemuokpolo and oil companies, the Governor stressed the need for a conducive environment to enable repairs to be effected by the contractor, De Wayle’s International limited.

Governor Uduaghan, who stated that oil giants, Shell and Chevron have already embarked on the repair of their damaged pipelines, assured the contractor that adequate security will be provided by the JTF.

He said that government was aware that power was a critical issue and the worsening situation was leading to a shortfall in gas production, occasioned by vandalisation of pipelines in the aftermath of the May 13 2009 military bombardment of Gbaramatu,

The representative of the NNPC, Engr. Voke Mukoro, disclosed that the nation was loosing 180 Million Cubic Feet of GAS daily as result of the damage to the Escravos – Lagos Pipeline.

Meanwhile, Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan today also visited the Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Warri.

He was also at the premises of the Effurun/Warri Water Scheme where the Commissioner in charge of the project, Mr. Champion kpateghe, briefed him.