The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Ltd has denied there was an explosion at its Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) in Eleme axis.
It said the mid-morning incident on Wednesday, March 19 was a flare and not an explosion.
A video clip of a raging fire on a section of an oil facility emerged online in the afternoon with a remark: “The Port-Harcourt refinery almost exploded today at about 11.45 am …, while they were trying to shut the system down.
“Then someone asked, “was it done deliberately? and the author replied no;
This is what we face constantly, System failure.”
From the tone of the conversation, the person apparently works at the facility.
The video went viral on several platforms, heightening the tensed situation in Rivers State over reports of repeated explosions on various pipelines.
But in a statement, the Chief Corporate Communication Officer of NNPCL Olufemi O. Soneye, the company dismissed insinuations of explosion on the newly refurbished facility as false.
Soneye noted the fire was not an explosion but a flare incident which has since been contained successfully.
According to him: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has refuted reports of an explosion at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State.
“The company clarified that what occurred was a flare incident, which has since been fully contained.
“There is no danger or health hazard to staff, the surrounding communities, or the environment.
NNPC Ltd. urges the media and the public to disregard any reports suggesting an explosion at the refinery, as they are entirely false.”
