7 Killed as Explosion Rocks NPDC’s Benin River Valve Station

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reported an explosion at Gbetiokun, OML 40, operated by its production arm the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC),  on behalf of the NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture.

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, at the NNPC,  Dr. Kennie Obateru explained that the incident, which occurred on Tuesday during the installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production, unfortunately caused seven fatalities.

Obateru said that detailed investigation of the cause of the explosion has commenced, while the Department of Petroleum Resources has been duly notified and Form 41 was being prepared for the industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature. 

According to him, bodies of the decease  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.

The release further stated that all personnel on board the platform had been fully accounted for.

Also, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, has  commiserated with the families of the bereaved, praying that God grants them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of their loved ones.