City refinery blast kills 1

ONE CONTRACTOR died and another was seriously hurt in an explosion shortly before 5pm at the Chevron oil refinery in Milnerton yesterday.

Although it was not immediately clear what had caused the explosion, Chevron general manager Steven Parker said at the time of going to press that the fire that followed the explosion had been extinguished.

About 6 000 workers are employed at the refinery.

A fire department spokesman said last night five fire engines responded to the blaze about 6.20pm.

ER24 media spokeswoman Vanessa Jackson confirmed two injured workers had been working in the chimney where the blast occurred.

Colleagues attempted to resuscitate the man who died on the scene, with paramedics taking over when they arrived.

The other man suffered burns and was admitted to the Milnerton Medi-Clinic.

Parker said in a statement the incident had occurred during a scheduled maintenance and inspection shutdown.

The incident was being investigated and further information would be made available later.

“The incident is under control and there is no cause for concern by the surrounding communities,” he said.

Last December emergency crews evacuated 500 people from the Milnerton fleamarket after the discovery of a chemical substance covering a portion of the trading area next to Otto du Plessis Drive. A chemical had leaked through a maintenance manhole for the pipeline that pipes diesel from Cape Town harbour to the refinery. The leak was contained.

Last July the Chevron refinery had to be shut down after a malfunction, the city’s disaster risk centre said at the time. The refinery’s emergency crews responded immediately and there were no injuries.