The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has refuted reports of an explosion at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) in Rivers State.
The company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said in a statement that what occurred was a flare incident which has been fully contained.
Soneye said there was no danger or health hazard to staff, the surrounding communities, or the environment.
“NNPC Ltd. urges the media and the public to disregard any reports suggesting an explosion at the refinery, as they are entirely false,” he said.
There were reports of an explosion at the refinery on Wednesday morning.
This followed an explosion at the Trans-Niger Pipeline at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of the state on Monday night.
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state on Monday.
He also suspended Governor Siminilayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months to restore normalcy in the state that has been rocked by crisis since October 2023.