Updated July 29, 2024
Date of Incident May 30, 2017
Location: Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam
Address: Kỳ Long, Kỳ Anh District, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Lime Kiln Dust
Industry: Steel Manufacturer
Equipment: Failure of Fabric Dust Filter
Company: Formosa Ha Tinh Steel
Previous Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Fatalities or Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Description
A dust explosion at a new steel plant in Vietnam rocked the Ha Tinh Province. There were no casualties or injuries and property damage was very minimal. The Ha Tinh Province People’s Committee determined that the explosion was a result of breakage of a fabric dust filter. Limestone dust and steam formed into a cake in the filter, causing a pressure drop that broke the filter.
The committee cited investigation results announced by Formosa Steel technicians, environmentalists from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and competent local agencies. Chang Fu-ning, Executive Vice President at Formosa Steel, confirmed the committee’s report saying the explosion was caused by the combustion of fine dust particles in the air as a result of an equipment malfunction. Formosa Steel pledged that the company will replace the broken fabric filter while examining all other facilities to ensure absolute safety.
Formosa Plastics Group, a Taiwanese conglomerate, operates the plant and had recently resumed test operations at the facility since causing one of the worst environmental disasters in Vietnam’s history. In April of 2016, waste-water discharged from the steel plant polluted more than 200 kilometres of coastline devastating the marine environment and local economies of several coastal cities which have largely relied on fishing and tourism. The company owned up to its mistake, offered a public apology, and pledged 500 million USD as compensation for the affected fishing communities.
Related Companies: None
Industry Articles: Link 2,
Keywords: Lime Dust, Steel Manufacturing, Dust Filter
