An oil vessel belonging to Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL) has exploded in Delta State.
According to a brief by the management of SEPCOL, the explosion which happened on Wednesday, engulfed the offshore facility known as FPSO Trinity Spirit, located at the Ukpokiti Terminal, around Excravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated and SEPCOL said they are working with necessary parties to contain the situation. As of the time of filing this report, there were no reported fatalities.
The firm also said that they were prioritising investigations with respect to the safety and security of the men aboard.
“We appreciate the assistance provided us by the Clean Nigeria Associates, the Chevron team operating in the nearby Escravos facility, and our community stakeholders as well as fishermen, who have been of tremendous assistance since the incident happened,” Ikemefuna Okafor, the CEO, stated.
He further said that the company has duly notified all relevant authorities and appealed to the members of the public to stay away from the area while a crisis management team continues to monitor the situation. The Chief Executive Officer assured that all stakeholders will be updated with new information as the investigation evolves.
The facility has a processing capacity of 22,000 barrels per day and a storage capacity of two million barrels. Although Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude producer, production costs there are high due to frequent accidents and insecurity. Militants have frequently attacked oil installations in the past and pirates are active across the wider Gulf of Guinea region.
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