The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reported seven fatalities in an explosion which occurred at Gbetiokun, Oil Mining Lease (OML 40), operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the NNPC.
NNPC spokesperson Kennie Obateru said that the explosion occurred at a site operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) on behalf of the NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture.
Mr Obateru said the incident occurred on Tuesday during the installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production which unfortunately caused 7 fatalities.
He said that the NNPC had begun an investigation of the cause of the explosion, while the Department of Petroleum Resources has been duly notified and Form 41 was being prepared for the Industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature.
The bodies of casualties have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele, while families of the personnel involved are being contacted by their employers: Weld Affairs and Flow Impact, which are consultants to NPDC. The release stated that all personnel on board the platform had been fully accounted for.