Jah Oil Company Denies Ownership of Exploded Fuel Tanker in Banjul
Company Refutes Claims Following Deadly Explosion
Banjul, The Gambia – Jah Oil Company has officially denied ownership of the fuel tanker that exploded during a delivery at the Navy Barracks in Banjul last Friday. The tragic incident claimed the lives of naval officer Richard Mendy and army escort Cherno Njie, while leaving three others with severe injuries.
Contradicting Reports and Official Statement
Initial reports following the explosion suggested the tanker belonged to Jah Oil Company, which regularly supplies fuel to the military facility. However, company General Manager Momodou Hydara firmly rejected these claims during a press conference.
“It’s important to clarify this because there are many rumours circulating. They were using a diesel pumping machine to transfer the fuel. We have been doing this for years without any problems,” Hydara stated.
Safety Concerns and Possible Causes
Hydara explained the potential cause of the explosion: “When petrol is discharged, it releases high vapour into the air, and any small flame can ignite that vapour, leading back to the source and causing an explosion.”
The company manager also revealed that their regular driver wasn’t operating the vehicle at the time of the incident, suggesting the individual behind the wheel may have lacked proper experience in fuel transportation and safety protocols.
By Adama Makasuba