Nigeria: Port Harcourt refinery fire under control

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC) has reported a "minor fire" at its Port Harcourt refinery complex.

The company, in a statement, said a spark ignited a fire while a truck was unloading naphtha into a tank at the plant.

Security officers, with support from the federal fire department, brought the fire under control within two hours.

Port Harcourt Refining Co. (PHRC) management assured that people living around the facility had no cause for alarm. PHRC said "safety of people and property" was its top priority.

The refinery's general manager was on the scene to oversee the work, NNPC said, and "immediately mobilized" an emergency response.

The fire caused damage only to the truck unloading the naphtha and to the bay in which it was parked. There was no other damage.

Work is underway to upgrade the PHRC facility. It is believed that the fire had no impact on the work.

Italy's Maire Tecnimont has won a $1.5 billion contract in Port Harcourt in April 2021. It aims to complete the first phase in April 2023. The Italian company is expected to complete all work by December 2024.