The National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) informed the public that at around 3 a.m. on May 20th, a fire broke out on the deepwater platform of CABGOC’s enguela Belize Lobito Tomboco (BBLT), located in Block 14 offshore Cabinda.
Seventeen people were injured in the incident, four of whom are in a serious condition and all of whom are on land and receiving medical attention.
The cause of the incident is currently being investigated. The incident occurred at a time when the BBLT plant was undergoing annual maintenance as part of a scheduled shutdown activity, with all production at the site having been shut down since May 1, 2025.
CABGOC responded immediately and successfully extinguished the fire, and all protocols were activated to implement emergency response procedures and notify the relevant authorities.
The main priorities for the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, the National Concessionaire and the operator are to guarantee the safety of all personnel, ensure the best follow-up for the injured and determine the root cause of the incident.
The ANPG reiterates its commitment to the well-being of the population and remains focused on ensuring effective and transparent communication with all stakeholders.
ANPG, following the incident that took place yesterday, on May 20th, informed that a person has gone missing.
Government entities and CABGOC, a Chevron subsidiary, continue to work closely together, mobilizing resources to conduct search and rescue operations.CABGOC is collaborating with contractors to provide support to those affected and their families.
Block 14 offshore Cabinda 14 is located in the Lower Congo Basin and covers an area of approximately 4,000 square kilometers in water depths ranging from 180 to 1,800 m. The BBLT project is located approximately 80 kilometers offshore in water depths of approximately 396 m and is expected to be developed in two phases. The first phase will be connected to an integrated drilling and production platform hub facility, while the second phase is planned to produce from subsea wells connected to a central production hub at Lobito Tomboco.
Chevron has been operating in Angola since the 1930s, with operating interests in two concessions: Block 0 off the coast of Cabinda and Deepwater Block 14.
In addition, CABGOC, a subsidiary of Chevron, signed a production sharing agreement (PSA) in 2023 to operate the Block 14/23 (B14/23) concession area within the Zone of Common Interest (ZIC) in the maritime areas of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.