Two killed in fire at Congo oil field, production halted

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo: A fire at an oil field operated by Total SA killed two people and injured two others, the French petroleum giant said Thursday.

The fire halted production causing a loss of 60,000 barrels a day, company officials said in a statement disseminated on state-run radio.

The cause of the blaze at the Kossa oil field, around 570 kilometers (354 miles) from Brazzaville, was unknown. Flames engulfed the oil field before dawn, and the fire was still burning late Thursday. Company officials said their investigation so far had turned up a suspicious boat, its hull and body completely burned.

“The company has announced the halt of production until further notice. Our refinery was not touched, but for the moment the blaze continues,” the statement said.

AP