The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said seven people lost their lives in an explosion which occurred at Gbetiokun, OML 40, operated by its subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).
A statement on Wednesday by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie 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.
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NNPC said detailed investigation of the cause of the explosion had commenced.
It also said the Department of Petroleum Resources had 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 NNPC said.
The national oil company stated that all personnel on board the platform had been fully accounted for.
NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, in the statement commiserated with the families of the bereaved, praying that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of their loved ones.
