The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has announced that the fire outbreak on a dry crude storage barge at Cawthorne Channel 1 in Rivers State has been successfully put out.
The spokesperson for NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, gave the update in a statement on Thursday.
The BESTAF 5 barge caught fire around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, causing panic in the area.
However, NNPC confirmed that the incident did not affect operations at the flow station in the vicinity.
According to the state-owned oil firm, no lives were lost during the incident.
“Thanks to the swift response of our emergency teams and industry partners, the fire was successfully contained. The incident did not impact flow station operations,” Soneye said.
The NNPC spokesperson also assured the public of the company’s commitment to safety, environmental protection, and operational integrity.
“Most importantly, there were no casualties, and all personnel are safe. NNPC Ltd. prioritizes safety and remains fully committed to environmental protection and operational integrity,” Soneye stated.
Reports indicate that government authorities have commenced investigations to determine the cause of the incident.
Recall that the Cawthorne Channel is a major hub for oil and gas facilities near the boundary between Bonny and Degema Local Government Areas in Rivers State.