Total refinery in Antwerp rocked by fatal blast
Total has shut down part of its refinery in Antwerp,
Belgium, after an explosion in a steam pipe, the company said on Tuesday.
The explosion killed two people, both of whom worked for a
subcontractor. The blast occurred around 3 p.m. local time on Tuesday during
planned maintenance of a gasoline-producing unit.
"We confirm that there has been an explosion on a steam
pipe in the refining part of the petrochemical complex," Total said in a
statement, adding that “the situation is now under control”.
The company added that the refinery was evacuated and that
there was no impact on the environment.
"As a consequence of the explosion, a part of the
installations are stopped, and the emergency plan of the refinery has been
activated," Total said.
The Antwerp refinery is one of the largest in Europe, with a
capacity of 340,000 bpd. The company said earlier this year that it would
invest €1 billion in the complex to increase its diesel capacity and cut costs.
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