Technician killed in RP refinery blast

Technician killed in RP refinery blast

MANILA (AFP): A technician was killed and two others were injured in an explosion at the oil refinery complex of Philippine oil refiner Petron Corp over the weekend, an official said yesterday.

Petron Corp spokeswoman Malou Erni said the explosion in the firm's refinery in the nearby province of Bataan damaged a "thermo-catalytic cracker unit" which was immediately shut down.

She said the explosion was an "accident" caused by a "build-up of steam pressure."

The one-month shutdown would result in a "slight" cut in Petron's output of gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas but the company assured there would be no shortages. The Bataan refinery has an output of 160,000 barrels per day.