ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PL

The breach was reported on Monday on the pipeline, which carries gas to the SPDC-operated Gbaran gas plant, an SPDC spokesman said.

"We immediately shut in the line and we have informed the relevant government agencies and stakeholders," SPDC said in a statement. A government-led investigation will determine the cause of the breach, it said.

The local subsidiary of Eni is a joint-venture partner on the line, but did not immediately comment.

(Reporting By Tife Owolabi; writing by Libby George; editing by Jason Neely)