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Iran contains fire in major petrochemical plant

Xinhua, July 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

A fire which broke out in the Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Plant in southwest Iran on Wednesday was contained on Saturday morning after causing damage to key parts of the complex.

After several rounds of futile attempt to put out the fire at a major blazing tank, the Iranian officials decided to discharge the feedstock in the tank and the remaining material burnt itself out, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announced the containment of blaze on Saturday, saying that safety operations are still underway to cool down the nearby facilities to prevent a new fire.

The damage to the complex is estimated at around 60 million euros (66.3 million U.S. dollars), Iran Insurance Company announced on Wednesday, according to state IRINN TV.

The petrochemical complex will resume its operation within the next few weeks, Zanganeh was quoted as saying by Press TV.

The complex will return to normal condition in two or three weeks, although it will take longer for its Paraxylene tower to be repaired and start over regular activities, he added.

On Friday, the Iranian oil minister denied the possibility of any act of sabotage in the incident.

A highly flammable chemical leakage was possibly the cause, local reports said.

According to Iran's Petro-Energy Information Network (SHANA) on Saturday, there were no casualties in the incident.

However, the official IRNA news agency reported on Friday that nine fire-fighters and rescue personnel were injured in the operation who were transferred to hospitals for treatment.

Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Plant, owned by Iran's National Petrochemical Company, produces 1.75 million tons of aromatic and by-products per year. Endit