Explosion at new oil refinery kills 2 technicians

An explosion at a Central Thailand oil refinery killed 2 people while technicians were testing out new machines. The GRD Energy oil refinery in Samut Sakhon, just southwest of Bangkok, is less than 2 months old and refines old motor oil into industrial fuel.

8 staff members were working at the refinery this morning, conducting tests on new machinery this morning. 2 of the technicians, 45 year old Panya Nantharung and 27 year old Supangchanan Saenchai, were standing in front of the oil tank next to the refinery chamber when the explosion occurred and died in the fire. No one else was injured.

The owner of the oil refinery says damages from the fire add up to 10 million baht. Some parts of the building collapsed. It took fire fighters 20 minutes to put out the flames.

“We suspect the expulsion occurred at a joint connecting the 800 litre oil tank chamber which heats oil to more than 200 degrees Celsius. This joint may have been damaged and built up pressure may have caused the explosion.”

Forensic staff are still investigating.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand