Blaze Breaks Out at Chevron's Angola Oil Facility, Leaving 17 Injured

Early Tuesday morning, May 20, a fire erupted on Chevron’s Benguela-belize-Lobito-Tomboco (BBLT) oil platform off the coast of Angola, injuring 17 individuals—four of whom are in critical condition.

The blaze ignited around 3:10 am on the cellar deck of the BBLT facility, situated about 60 miles from Cabinda.At that time, the platform was undergoing its annual maintenance shutdown that began on May 1, 2025.

Chevron reported that their team quickly contained the fire.The local subsidiary, Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC), promptly activated emergency protocols and confirmed all personnel where safe.

With a capacity to accommodate up to 157 workers,all injured employees have been transported to shore for medical treatment. Four individuals are receiving intensive care due to serious injuries sustained during the incident.

An examination is currently underway to uncover what sparked the fire.Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and biofuels (ANPG) is collaborating with Chevron and CABGOC in this inquiry.

In a statement released by ANPG, they emphasized their dedication to supporting those affected and assured stakeholders of ongoing updates regarding the situation.

Both Chevron and Angolan officials acknowledged the incident in a joint statement while reiterating their commitment to safety as their top priority. They promised thorough follow-ups for those injured in this unfortunate event.

The Ministry of Mineral Resources along with ANPG and Chevron are focused not only on determining how this happened but also on ensuring robust safety measures moving forward while providing necessary medical assistance for those hurt.

The BBLT platform operates at a depth of approximately 396 meters using an innovative bottom-fixed compliant tower design. This unique structure features a flexible jacket extending over 1,200 feet that allows it to adapt smoothly with wave movements—enhancing stability significantly compared to customary designs found elsewhere like BP’s Thunder Horse or Shell’s Perdido platforms.

While BBLT has an extraordinary production capacity of up to 220,000 barrels per day, operations were already halted due to maintenance prior to this incident; thus it remains unclear how long it will take before production can resume post-fire assessment.

As authorities continue evaluating damage levels at BBLT and potential timelines for restarting operations remain uncertain at this point.