Explosion halts NH3 production at Yara plant

Tertre, Belgium-An explosion at Yara International ASA’s Tertre plant in Belgium on June 27 is likely to halt ammonia production for a prolonged period, the company announced on June 29. Although two people were injured, their injuries were not critical. The explosion took place early Saturday morning, and Yara spokesman Asle Skredderberget said the plant suffered “substantial” damage in the blast. “It was enough damage that it will take a while to assess how it will affect operations ?Çô and for how long,” he told the Associated Press. “We’re talking months, not weeks.” The cause of the blast has not yet been determined, but an investigation is underway, included the impact on fertilizer production. The company was also assessing the possible consequences on the rest of the Tertre operation. The explosion was the second at a Yara facility in the last seven months. On Dec. 3, 2008, five people were injured after an explosion and fire at Yara’s Porsgrunn #3 NPK plant in Norway (GM Dec. 8, 2008). The Tertre plant has annual production volumes of 420,000 mt of ammonia and 920,000 mt of finished fertilizer products for markets in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, as well as industrial chemicals for a range of European customers. It accounts for 5 percent of Yara’s total ammonia output, and 15 percent of its total fertilizer production.