Media reports landing on BusinessTech Africa’s desk indicate that an ammonia leak at a Sasol plant has been successfully contained.
This comes after reports that in the early hours of Friday morning and it has been contained, the synthetic fuel and chemicals giant has said.
According to a Sasol spokesperson, a strong ammonia smell was detected at Sasol’s Bunsen Site in Sasolburg at approximately 02:45 on Friday morning.
“Sasol’s emergency protocol was activated. The incident was contained and the emergency was called off at 05:09,” the spokesperson said according to Fin24.
As the leading supplier of ammonia – which is a toxic liquid – the product is one of the most important commodity chemicals produced in the world and, as such, is manufactured in vast quantities.
Ammonia is produced at both Sasol’s Secunda and Sasolburg facilities in Mpumalanga and most of the world’s ammonia production is used in the production of nitrogenous fertilisers, including urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate.
In addition, Sasolburg Operations covers an area of 51 km2, comprising three chemical facilities – which is the Sasol One Site, the Midland Site, and the Bunsen Site.
Resulting from this leak can lead to immediate burning of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract and can result in blindness, lung damage, or death.
It is reported that 15 workers at a food manufacturing facility in Ontario, Canada, were taken to hospital on Thursday as a precautionary measure after an ammonia leak.