TELL Magazine

An early morning fire caused a scare on New year’s day at the Port Harcourt Refinery complex at Alesa, Eleme, Rivers State.

The fire caught a section of the process area of the refinery and lasted for several hours before it was put out.

It was not certain what caused the fire, but a senior security personnel of the refinery told the magazine that “it was a minor incident, which was quickly resolved.”

Member of the public including our correspondent were barred from gaining access to the scene of the incident. The personnel also declined giving details of the incident.

The senior security personnel who said the incident was a minor one also advised the magazine to come back on Tuesday when official work resumes to speak with corporate personnel.

The refinery has been shut down for turnaround maintenance and was not producing at the time of the incident.

In March last year, a contract was signed between the Nigerian government and Tecnimont, an Italian firm to execute a turnaround maintenance of the refinery at the sum of $1.5 billion.

Click Here to Read More Articles