By Oke Peter
No fewer than two oil workers have been injured as fire gutted an oil field operated by Consolidated Oil Company in Bayelsa State.
The inferno reportedly occurred in the early morning of Friday at an oil rig operated by the indigenous oil major at Akassa in Brass Local Government Area of the state.
Energy Worth gathered that the fire was caused by an electrical fault, which some eyewitnesses claimed wreaked havoc on the facility.
A security source, who craved anonymity, said, “The enormity of the fire hampered initial rescue efforts and it is expected in an oil and gas environment, but the emergency response systems were activated in the facility and the fire was put out.
“However, two of the casualties who sustained injuries in the incident were rescued and have been stabilised and getting medical attention in an unnamed hospital.
“The facility has been shut down and the area is calm now.”
Another security source in the area confirmed the disaster and dismissed insinuations that the explosion was carried out by militants.
“The fire incident is an operational mishap and has nothing to do with militants; so it is within the operational levels in the company and they are currently assessing the damage done by the fire,” the source said.
Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the incident.
He, however, said the command only had sketchy information which it had yet to put together.
November 23, 2024
