Renaissance, a prominent indigenous oil and gas company, has firmly rejected reports of a gas explosion at its Soku Gas Plant in Rivers State. The company responded quickly after rumors of an explosion surfaced on Sunday, following claims from local sources, including Christian Otiasah, an environmental manager in the Soku community.
In a swift clarification, Renaissance stated that no such incident had occurred at its facility, emphasizing that its operations were continuing without disruption and all safety protocols were intact.
“We categorically state that there was no gas explosion or fire at our Soku facility. Our operations remain unaffected, and all safety measures are fully in place,” the company’s communications manager Bamidele Odugbesan said in a statement.
Renaissance reassured the public and stakeholders of its ongoing commitment to safety and environmental standards, emphasizing that all its facilities undergo regular monitoring to ensure safety and prevent any incidents. The company also urged the media and the public to exercise caution and verify information before spreading unconfirmed reports, which could cause undue panic.
The Soku community in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area also weighed in on the matter, refuting the explosion claims. Witness Alasia, the general secretary of the community, called the reports “baseless and untrue,” urging the public to disregard the allegations. Alasia clarified that the Soku Gas Plant remained in “perfect working condition,” and there had been no explosion or fire at the site.
“We are deeply concerned that such misleading information is circulating. Soku Gas Plant is safe and operational,” he stated.
However, Alasia did acknowledge a fire outbreak along the Soku-Abua-Rumuji gas pipeline right of way, though the cause of the fire remains unknown. He expressed that the company had yet to provide any updates or useful information regarding the incident.
Despite the fire along the pipeline, Alasia assured residents of the community and surrounding areas that there were no threats to safety or security, emphasizing that the Soku community remains peaceful and secure.
As of now, the Rivers State Government has not issued an official statement on the matter. Local authorities are expected to investigate the situation further to clarify the facts surrounding the reported incident.
