Date: July 24, 2018
Location: Halsa (Norway)
Address: Forøy, 8178
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Fishmeal Dust
Industry: Aquaculture Nutrition (Food Processing)
Equipment: Silo
Company: Cargill (EWOS)
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to the company website, Cargill was established in 1865 when founder William W. Cargill bought a grain flat house in Conover, Iowa. Today, its business consists of multiple divisions that include grain and other agricultural commodities; energy, steel, and transportation infrastructures; livestock and feed; and food ingredients such as starch and vegetable oils.
Cargill established a presence in Norway in 2015 when it acquired EWOS, a global company focusing on salmon nutrition. It employs over 350 people in eight locations across the country. These locations include a Research & Development centre and feed manufacturing facilities.
Description of Fishmeal Dust Explosion:
On July 25, 2018, the industry news resource Salmon Business reported an explosion at a large fishmeal plant in Halsa, Norway. The Police Superintendent of Nordland Police District told the local newspaper Avisa Nordland that there had been an explosion in a silo and that all employees were safe. The Nordland County Police Twitter account later tweeted that the blast occurred when fishmeal dust ignited.
Campers at the Furøy campsite, which is approximately one kilometre from the facility, reported hearing a blast and seeing dark clouds of smoke issuing from the silo. The plant manager confirmed that some tin plates in the silo were bent away, but said that the full extent of the damage was not yet known.
The police have since opened an investigation into the silo explosion, although they have not made their findings public.
Previous Incidents:
Salmon Business has reported that in July 2017 an explosion took place at Cargill’s feed facility at Gunnhildvågen in Florø. The cause was later determined to be overheating in the raw material elevator. The building was empty at the time of the blast, which blew out all the windows on the top floor.
Sources:
Salmon Business
Avisa Nordland
