No Life Lost In Oil Barges Inferno in Rivers – NNPC

ABUJA – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has disclosed that a fire broke out on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at approximately 2:10 pm on the dry crude storage barge BESTAF5 at Cawthorne Channel 1 in Rivers State.

Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC who disclosed this in a statement, said the fire quickly spread to other barges in the area, but was contained without recording any casualties.

“Fortunately, emergency teams and industry partners responded swiftly to contain the blaze, preventing any impact on flow station operations. Most importantly, there were no casualties reported, and all personnel are safe.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has reassured the public of its commitment to safety, environmental protection, and operational integrity.

“This incident highlights the importance of emergency preparedness and collaboration in preventing and responding to potential disasters in the oil and gas industry” reads the statement in part.