The General Secretary of the Cabinda Oil Industry and Related Workers Union (STIPAC), André Capita, has expressed concern over the frequency of accidents in Angola’s oil sector, following a recent incident on the Benguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT) platform that left 17 people injured and one missing.
The fire occurred early Tuesday on the basement deck of the deep-water BBLT platform, operated by Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (Cabgoc), a Chevron subsidiary, located in Block 14 off the coast of Cabinda.
Cabgoc confirmed that four of the 17 injured were in serious condition and that the cause of the incident is under investigation.
Capita told Lusa news agency that the injured workers were employed by service providers contracted by Cabgoc.
He said STIPAC has not yet received a clear explanation of the cause. While some reports mention an explosion followed by fire, others claim the injuries may have resulted from exposure to steam from a burst line—possibly carrying gas or crude oil.
Having worked over 20 years on platforms and rigs, Capita emphasized the inherent dangers of oil extraction and drilling operations.
He added that many of the union’s demands for workers’ rights and better treatment stem from repeated incidents like this.
“It’s a regrettable situation. We are closely monitoring developments,” Capita said. He confirmed that STIPAC is working with the provincial services of the General Labor Inspectorate to gather more information about the missing worker and the causes of the accident.
Capita acknowledged that safety protocols were followed but noted that even strict preventive measures cannot eliminate all risks in such a hazardous industry. He stressed that additional steps must now be taken to prevent similar incidents.
According to STIPAC, reports from the General Labor Inspectorate indicate that workplace accidents in Angola’s oil sector are frequent.
However, Capita believes the actual number is likely higher, as many workers are not unionized and incidents go unreported.
STIPAC represents over 12,000 members across more than 50 companies in the oil industry.
The accident happened during a scheduled shutdown for annual maintenance on the BBLT platform, which had ceased production on May 1.
The incident took place around 3:10 a.m. on the hold deck, but the situation was quickly brought under control following the activation of emergency safety and fire-response protocols.
