Seventeen workers were injured after a fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday on Chevron’s Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) deep-water oil platform off the coast of Angola.
The blaze erupted around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) on the basement deck of the multi-storey drilling and production platform, located in the Block 14 concession, approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) offshore from the Cabinda coast. Authorities say the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels confirmed that all those injured have been brought safely to shore and are receiving appropriate medical treatment.
Chevron, the U.S. energy giant operating the facility, stated that the incident occurred while the BBLT platform was undergoing annual maintenance. All oil production at the site had been halted since May 1 as part of the shutdown process.
According to Chevron’s website, the platform can accommodate up to 157 personnel. The company noted that all individuals on board at the time of the fire have been accounted for.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.
