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At least 10 workers were also injured in the blast that company officials say was caused by a gas leak on board the Cidade de São Mateus platform.
Although the fire was contained there remains little chance that the six workers listed as missing could have survived the blast.
The blast is the latest in a series of fatal mishaps and technical snafus that have challenged the company’s stature as a Brazilian industrial powerhouse.
A technical issue forced Petrobras to halt drilling at Libra – its largest offshore oil field.
In recent weeks the company has also been plagued by accusations of widespread top-management skimming of billions in profits.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was Petrobras chairwoman from 2003 to 2010 before she was elected President.
She has admitted that corruption did occur during her years at the helm but insists she had no knowledge till she had already left the company.
Source: Agencies