JOHANNESBURG – A blast on Monday at South Africa’s Natref oil refinery injured 11 people and forced the 108,000 barrel per day facility owned by Sasol and Total to be evacuated, emergency services ER 24 said.
ER24 standing by in Sasolburg for an apparent explosion at a Factory. Update to follow. @ewnupdates @eNCA @JacaNews @News24_SA pic.twitter.com/Jz9UxKxpAb
— ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd. (@ER24EMS) May 22, 2017
Sasol confirmed on its website there had been an explosion at about 0545 GMT at the country’s only inland refinery, which is a joint venture between the petrochemicals group and the South African subsidiary of Total.
“We have to put out the fire first and then we can send in our guys in to asses the impact that the fire has caused,” Sasol spokesman Alex Anderson said, adding that he would give more information on the impact on production once it became available.
Sasol’s shares were largely stable 410.61 rand by 0800 GMT.
Total officials were not immediately reachable for comment.
Africa’s most advanced economy consumes about 400,000 barrels of oil per day.
Sasol describes the refinery as a medium-sized technologically advanced plant.
11 injured today explosion at SA's only inland oil refinery owned by petrochemicals group Sasol and the local unit of Total: Reuters
— Sure Kamhunga (@sure_kamhunga) May 22, 2017
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