Pipeline explodes in northern Sudan

OMDURMAN, Nov 16, 2004 (Sudanese Radio) — Omdurman Radio correspondent at the scene of an incident where part of an oil pipeline has been destroyed at Bir al-Basha area, in Shendi in northern Sudan, says that the explosion destroyed three metres of pipeline.

The concerned authorities on the ground have began handling the situation.

Our correspondent added that the minister of energy and mining, Dr Awad Ahmad al-Jaz, said that the extent of the destruction was small, and that repairs would be complete in the next few hours. He noted that those who carried out the operation planted some land mines in the area of the incident, which made it difficult to avert the explosion.

Material from the BBC Monitoring service