A swift response from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) emergency team successfully curtailed the spread of a fire that broke out on Wednesday, February 19, at the Cawthorne Channel 1 Barges in Rivers State, affecting the dry crude storage barge BESTAF5.
The fire initially spread to other nearby barges, but due to the quick action by NNPCL’s emergency team and their industry partners, it was promptly contained. In a statement released on Thursday, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL Ltd., confirmed that the incident occurred at approximately 14:10 hours. However, he assured the public that the fire did not affect flow station operations.
Mr. Soneye further emphasized that there were no casualties and all personnel on site are safe. He reiterated the company’s commitment to safety, environmental protection, and operational integrity, ensuring that such incidents are swiftly addressed to minimize impact.
The effective and rapid response demonstrated by the NNPCL emergency team underscores the company’s preparedness and its focus on safeguarding both human life and the environment during operational challenges.
