Victor EzejaThe Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed that no casualty was recorded when a fire broke out on the dry crude storage barge BESTAF5 at Cawthorne Channel 1, Rivers State.
In a statement released Thursday night, NNPCL said that on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, a fire broke out on the dry crude storage barge BESTAF5 at Cawthorne Channel 1, spreading to other barges.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHowever, the swift response of the NNPCL emergency teams and industry partners led to the successful containment of the fire, the national oil company’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, stated.
Part of the statement reads: “At approximately 14:10 hours on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, a fire broke out on the dry crude storage barge BESTAF5 at Cawthorne Channel 1, Rivers State, spreading to other barges.
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“Thanks to the swift response of our emergency teams and industry partners, the fire was successfully contained. The incident did not impact flow station operations.
“Most importantly, there were no casualties, and all personnel are safe.”
The statement added that NNPCL “prioritises safety and remains fully committed to environmental protection and operational integrity.”
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Prime Business Africa reports that the fire explosion damaged several facilities at two flow stations near the Cawthorne Channel, off the coast of Bonny in Rivers State, raising concerns about casualties.
NNPCL is expected to investigate the cause of the fire outbreak.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
