Photo credit, Getty Images
Gabonese authorities on high alert have deployed search and rescue resources to find five people missing since the accident that occurred on Saturday at sea on the Prospector 5 oil prospecting platform.
Clotaire Kondja, the Gabonese minister of oil and gas, spoke to the press on Sunday to take stock of the situation and announce the measures taken by the government.
End of content
What happened?
The Prospector 5 platform was preparing to begin offshore drilling near Mayumba, in southwest Gabon, when it suffered a serious technical failure leading to its sinking.
The government announced the establishment of a crisis unit after the sinking of an oil platform on Saturday.
According to the company Borr Drilling which operated the platform, "the incident occurred around 8:37 p.m. local time (7:37 p.m. GMT) on Saturday, involving the Prospector 5 drilling platform", "as part of preparations for a planned drilling campaign."
What do we know about the victims?
During her Sunday update on the situation, the Minister of Gas and Oil of Gabon, Clothilde Kondja announced that "115 people were on board at the time of the accident" of which "110 were found safe and sound" and evacuated to Port-Gentil, approximately 370 km from the scene of the accident, but, unfortunately "5 people are missing".
To find the latter, the Gabonese government has deployed all means, announced Minister Clothilde Kondja. The national navy was also mobilized to find the five people missing, including three Gabonese, an Indian and a Croatian, according to the government press release.
What measures is the government taking?
“Search and rescue operations continue without interruption. The ministry has asked the national navy to strengthen the resources engaged at sea alongside the contractor and the operator,” announced the Minister of Oil and Gas.
End of Most read
Three helicopters were mobilized as part of the search to find the missing people.
Moreover, indicated Clothilde Kondja, “a crisis unit was activated this Sunday under the authority of the Ministry of Oil and Gas”. This unit, he said, “brings together the ministry, the national navy, the National Agency for National Parks, the Gabon Oil Company, the State's partner on the permit, as well as BW Energy and Borr Drilling”.
Consequences of the accident
Minister Clothilde Kondja wanted to reassure citizens and local populations by emphasizing “that no release of harmful substances has been noted at this stage”.
“The area is subject to continuous monitoring and the means of combating pollution remain mobilized in order to protect the coastline and the Mayumba park,” he said.
However, he revealed that "the ministry has ordered the opening of a technical investigation intended to establish the exact circumstances of the accident and responsibilities."
Prospector 5 is a jack-up oil platform owned by the Norwegian company Borr Drilling. It is a drilling barge equipped with long metal legs that extend to the seabed to raise the hull above the water level.
Discover more
Look!
End of Look!
