Seven die in NNPC gas explosion in Benin
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has said that seven persons died in an explosion that occurred at Gbetiokun, Oil Mining Lease (OML 40), operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), it’s subsidiary.
The corporation disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesman Dr Kennie Obateru, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Obateru said that the unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday during the installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during the discharging of Gbetiokun production.
Read Also:
He also stated that investigation on the cause of the explosion had commenced, while the Department of Petroleum Resources had been duly notified.
According to him, 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,” he said.
He further explained that all personnel onboard the platform had been fully accounted for adding that the NNPC Group Managing Director, Malam Mele Kyari, had commiserated with the families of the bereaved.
He said Kyari prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of their loved ones, NAN reports.
