CHEVRON PLATFORM FIRE INJURES 17 IN ANGOLA, INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
A serious fire incident at Chevron’s Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) deepwater platform offshore Angola has injured 17 people, with four in severe condition. Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) confirmed that one person remains missing following the incident.
The fire erupted at 3:00 AM on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, on the basement deck of the platform located in Block 14, offshore Cabinda. The incident occurred during scheduled annual maintenance, with all production at the facility shut down since May 1, 2025. All injured personnel have been evacuated to land and are receiving appropriate medical care.
Chevron’s Angolan subsidiary, CABGOC (Cabinda Gulf Oil Company), responded immediately and successfully extinguished the fire. All emergency response protocols were activated, and relevant authorities were notified according to standard procedures. The company is collaborating with contracting partners to provide support to affected individuals and their families.
The BBLT platform is a 512-meter offshore compliant tower oil platform situated in Block 14, with reservoirs located below 390 meters of water depth in the lower Congo Basin. The block produces approximately 45,000 barrels of oil per day, making it the smallest producing block operated by any of the five major oil companies operating in Angola.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation, with the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, the National Concessionaire, and the operator prioritizing personnel safety, proper medical care for the injured, and determining the root cause of the incident.
Source: africaoilgasreport.com and bairdmaritime.com
