By Godwin Anene
A fire outbreak which gutted a session of the Port Harcourt refinery on New Year Day has been put off without any casualty being recorded.
The inferno was said to have started when truck was discharging naphtha into a tank at the refinery on Saturday morning.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited confirmed the incident in a statement but its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad.
Muhammed described the outbreak that as a minor incident which was successfully put by firefighters at the refinery.
The statement released on Saturday night, “This morning, 01/01/2022, a minor fire incidence occurred at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) .
“The incident, which was contained in less than two hours was caused by a spark while a 33,000 litre truck was discharging naphtha into a tank at the PHRC.
“The management of the refinery led by the Managing Director, who was at the scene supervising the operation, immediately mobilized the safety structure at the PHRC and with support from the Federal Fire service, successfully brought the fire under control.
“The management of the PHRC wishes to reassure Nigerians resident in the neighbourhood of the facility that they have no cause to worry about the incident; and to also affirm that the safety of life and of property is at the top of its priority list.
“The incident affected only the discharging truck and the pump bay. No other property was damaged.
“The management and staff of the PHRC hereby extends its profound appreciations to all those that contributed in bringing a speedy end to the incidence; while wishing all Nigerians a very happy and fulfilling New Year 2022.”
