Explosion: Rivers suspects negligence, threatens clampdown on gas plants

The Rivers State Government said it had started investigating a fire incident at a gas plant in Rumuodomaya community in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

The gas plant went up in flames while a truck was discharging its content on Saturday, destroying property worth millions of naira. One person was feared dead, while three others were critically injured.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, the state Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr Peter Medee, ordered the closure of the plant after inspecting the scene.

He attributed the incident to negligence on the part of the company.

Medee said, “From our assessment, I think there must be some negligence on the operation of the company because we were made to understand that they were discharging gas late at night. There was a generator that was close to the direction and the flow of the gas.

“So, that could have caused a spark that might have led to this fire. We have also seen that the company has some safety gadgets in place. But we are not very satisfied that those safety gadgets were actually operational.

“I have directed that they should seal the place. The ministry will seal the place and we will make our detail investigation. The outcome of that investigation will determine our next line of action.”

The commissioner warned gas outlets and retailers against operating without government approval, saying such facilities, especially those located in residential areas, would be sealed to forestall any incident.

According to him, discharge of products at night when safety officials are away will no longer be tolerated in the state.

Meanwhile, the Department of Petroleum Resources and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency have confirmed being part of the investigation.

The Zonal Coordinator of DPR, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, Bassey Nkanga, and the Port Harcourt Zonal Director of NOSDRA, Ime Ekanem, stated this to our correspondent on the telephone on Monday.

Residents and eyewitnesses, who spoke to our correspondent, decried the absence of a fire station in the area.