Iran refinery blast kills 2, injures 12

24 May 2011 | 18:41 Code : 13054 Latest Headlines

PressTV--At least two people have been killed and twelve others injured as a massive explosion ripped through an oil refinery facility in the southern Iranian port city of Abadan. The incident occurred on Tuesday while Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was on sight to inaugurate a new gasoline production unit in the Abadan refinery, Mehr News Agency reported.

Firefighters immediately brought the fire under control, the report added.

A number of the refinery employees suffered gas intoxication after toxic fumes and thick clouds of smoke cast a shadow over the refinery.

Some of those injured or poisoned in the blast were immediately transferred to the Iranian capital of Tehran upon the order of President Ahmadinejad.

A gas leakage in one of the refinery units has been blamed as the cause of the explosion and ensuing fire.

The development plan of Abadan refinery is aimed at producing the premium 94 octane gasoline.

According to a recent report published by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Iran gasoline production will climb to 72 million liters per day by 2012.

The report pointed to the upcoming surge in gasoline production as work on upgrading several refiners is nearing completion. The report added that Iran gasoline production will yield a surplus of about 20 million liters per day for export once the country reaches production capacity of 42 million liters per day in 2012.

The Islamic Republic plans to commence large-scale gasoline exports in the near future.