The extent of damage or the effects on production were not clear
DURBAN, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven people were injured after an explosion rocked South Africa’s second-largest crude oil refinery in Durban.
Engen, which operates the plant and is majority-owned by Malaysia’s Petronas, said a fire broke out about 7.10 am (05:10 GMT) on Friday and was extinguished by 8.45 am (06:45 GMT).
The extent of damage or the effects on production at the 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery were not clear. Engen said in a statement that the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Those injured are in stable condition, KwaZulu-Natal emergency medical services spokesman Robert McKenzie said.
All seven injured were workers at the refinery. Six of them were being treated for smoke inhalation and the other injured his hip in a fall while trying to escape the fire.
Africa’s most industrialised economy has six refineries, four using crude oil and two synthetic fuel as feedstock. It is a net importer of petroleum products.
The country’s third-biggest crude oil refinery, a 100,000 bpd facility operated by Astron Energy in Cape Town, was the site of an explosion earlier this year. — NNN-AGENCIES
