A Fire on Angola Oil Platform Injures 17 People

On May 20, 2025, a fire broke out on the basement deck of the Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) deepwater platform off the coast of Angola, operated by Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (CABGOC), a subsidiary of Chevron. The incident occurred during annual maintenance as part of a scheduled shutdown, with production halted since May 1, 2025.

The National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) reported that 17 individuals were injured in the fire, with four sustaining serious injuries. All injured personnel are currently on land receiving medical care.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Angola’s regulator confirmed that CABGOC acted promptly to extinguish the fire, following emergency response protocols and notifying the relevant authorities.

ANPG emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of all personnel, providing the best care for the injured, and determining the root cause of the incident. Effective and transparent communication with stakeholders remains a top priority for the agency.

Overview of the BBLT Project

Block 14 in the Lower Congo Basin covers an area of approximately 1,500 square miles, with water depths ranging from 600 to 6,000 feet. The BBLT project, located 50 miles offshore in 1,300 feet of water, was designed to be developed in two phases.

Phase 1 involved an integrated drilling and production platform hub facility, while Phase 2 aimed to produce via subsea wells tied into the central production hub. Chevron, with a long-standing presence in Angola, operates in Block 0 off the coast of Cabinda province and Block 14 in deepwater.

In addition to its operated interests, Chevron holds a non-operated stake in Angola LNG, a plant in Soyo with a production capacity of 5.2 million metric tons per year. CABGOC also signed a production sharing agreement in 2023 to operate the Block 14/23 concession area in the zone of common interest.

Chevron’s commitment to developing its assets is evident with the recent start of production from its deepwater oil and gas project in the Gulf of America, formerly known as the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.