Date: January 16, 2018
Location: Paradip, Odisha (India)
Address: 754142
Type: Conveyor Fire
Fuel: Unknown
Industry: Steel Pellets (Manufacturing)
Equipment: Conveyor Belt
Company: Essar Steel
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Essar Steel is part of Essar Global Fund Limited, an India-based global investor active in metals, mining, energy, infrastructure, and services such as shipping, IT, and retail. The steel pellet plant in Paradip was commissioned in April 2012, its proximity to the Paradip port ensuring that the pellets are quickly shipped to the company steel plant in Hazira.
Description of Dust Fire:
On January 16, 2018, The Statesman reported a structural fire at Essar Steel’s ore grinding plant. According to the local fire officer, the fire broke out around 12:45 p.m. when labourers were working with hot metal near the grinding plant site. A piece of metal fell onto the rubber lining of the conveyor belt, causing a fire that quickly flared up.
Several workers ran for safety and, according to unconfirmed reports, over 25 of them had to be rescued. Four fire tenders were called to the scene to douse the fire.
No injuries were reported and the damage was not serious, although the plant was shut down until repairs could be completed.
Previous Incidents:
According to The Statesman, the plant site has experienced four prior instances of fire since 2011. The first, which occurred before the actual plant was built, took place on March 1, 2011, and resulted in property damage valued at one crore rupees ($145,337 US).
Over a year later, on October 25, 2012, the Times of India reported another fire that partially gutted the electric substation at the plant premises. Witnesses reported a huge blast before the fire broke out, forcing everyone on site to flee. Two years later, in 2014, a serious fire broke out on the plant’s construction site and in 2015 a similar incident occurred at its blast furnace.
Sources:
The Statesman
Times of India