THEGOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Allayingconcerns over liquid ammonia storage facilities at the Mormugao Port Trust(MPT) following the recent ammonia leakage at Cuncolim Industrial Estate whichleft one person dead, Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) said the ammoniastorage tank at MPT is an atmospheric storage facility and there was no scopeof any pressure inside the tank.
“Thetank has been operational for around 19 years without any untoward incidents,”ZACL executive director Nitin Kantak told reporters on Monday.
"Thedesign and construction of the tank is by Toyo Engineering India Limited, arenowned and reputed company with abundant experience in this field. Assessmentis carried out by National Environmental Engineering and Research Institute(NEERI), a premier government of India undertaking in the environment field.”
“Risk-basedinspection of the tank and other equipment was carried out recently by Lloyd’sRegister of Industrial Services (LRIS), an internationally reputed inspectionagency to study the health of the tank. The tank is completely safe and alllicences, permits and certifications of the tank are in place and we can safelyoperate the plant," said Kantak.
"Whilecontinuous monitoring of the health of the tank is carried out by Zuari’sin-house Plant Engineering Services team, the tank is an atmospheric storagefacility and hence there is no pressure inside the tank which means it is saferthan any pressurised vessel,” he added.
Kantaksaid the construction is a double walled double integrity tank also known asCup in Tank design, wherein the inner container (cup) holds the liquid.
“The outershell (container) is also designed to hold the liquid in the event of anyissues with the inner tank without any problem. Further to there, is a dykewall, which is not actually required as per standards but is yet provided fortertiary safety and containment, which is over and above the coderequirement," said Kantak.
"Sensorsbeing used to detect ammonia are installed all over the site and willimmediately give alarms in the case of any ammonia leakage. A safety ‘FoamSystem’ is also provided which will automatically come in operation if two ormore ammonia sensors activate. While the fire hydrant system is available asper code at the site, spray system (deluge system) at tanker loading station,tanker loading pumps, and ammonia compressor house & refrigeration area isalso provided," he added.
"Wehave normal mock drills and we have our staff trained for any emergency and wehave all valid permissions from the Controller of Explosives (Nagpur), DirectorGeneral of Dock Safety and local permission like Consent to Operate from GoaState Pollution Control Board, permissions and NOCs from health department,fire and emergency services and also from MMC and MPDA.”
“All thesedetails of certification and NOCs are shared with the collectors office and MPTas well," said Kantak.
MMC to convene joint meet on safety of storage tanks
Barely days after an ammonia leakage incident in CuncolimIndustrial Estate which left one dead and some persons injured, there aregrowing concerns over the existence of several liquid cargo tanks storingpetroleum products and other cargo like liquid ammonia in the city limits.
While many companies like Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleumhave storage tanks in the city limits, Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) hasa huge storage tank in the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
Several residents and activists have expressed concernsover the recent ammonia leakage incident in Cuncolim and have requestedauthorities to check all safety aspects of storage tanks in the port town.
Reacting to such requests, the Mormugao Municipal Council(MMC) has decide to convene a joint meeting of all companies having liquidstorage tanks to check for all safety aspects and certifications.
"The storage tanks of oil companies have been herein Vasco for so many years and till date and by the grace of God, there hasnever been any untoward incident. But that does not mean that we can takethings lightly,” MMC chairperson Nandadeep Raut told reporters.
“We also have a huge ammonia tank in the port and afterthe Cuncolim incident, there is considerable fear and this is justified becauseammonia gas is dangerous. We recently witnessed how people had to be evacuatedwhen a tanker carrying ammonia had fallen on its side at Chicalim and the gashad leaked out.”
Raut said the MMT has decided to convene a joint meetingwith MPT, oil companies and ZACL to check for their safety standards.
“I will also personally visit the sites to dispel anyfear in the minds of locals. In case there are any doubts, I will take up thematter with the Dy Collector, who heads the Disaster Management Committee, tocarry out any further checks, if required," said Raut.
