Chevron confirmed Wednesday that a fire has injured at least 17 workers and left one missing on its Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) offshore platform in Angola.
The fire started on Tuesday, with details released to Reuters on Wednesday by Chevron subsidiary Cabinda Gulf Oil Company Ltd. (CABGOC), which operates the platform.
Emergency teams are continuing search-and-rescue operations for the missing worker, while four of the injured reportedly remain in serious condition.
CABGOC stated that the cause of the fire remains under investigation and did not comment on whether production has been affected.
The BBLT complex, located approximately 85 miles off the Angolan coast in Block 14, is one of Chevron’s key assets in West Africa with a peak output capacity exceeding 200,000 barrels of oil per day.
“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our personnel,” a company spokesperson said, as reported by Reuters. “We are coordinating closely with local authorities and providing full support to the affected individuals and their families.”
It is not yet known whether any foreign contractors were among the injured. The Angolan Ministry of Mineral Resources and Petroleum has acknowledged the incident but has not released a formal statement.
No fatalities have been confirmed, and there has been no public announcement regarding whether operations at nearby platforms have been impacted.
Chevron said it will provide additional updates as information becomes available. The fire marks one of the most serious offshore incidents in Angola’s energy sector in recent years and raises new concerns over safety protocols in high-capacity deepwater operations.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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