By Prior Beharry
AN incident at the NiQuan Gas To Liquids (GTL) plant in Pointe-a-Pierre leaves one man in hospital.
Multiple sources told AZP News that after 1 am on Thursday, the man who works for Massy Energy Engineered Solutions Ltd (MEES), a company contracted by NiQuan, went to disconnect a line that had flammable liquid when the incident occurred.
A release from NiQuan on Friday stated that the man was in stable condition and receiving medical attention.
One source said that while he was disconnecting the line, the liquid sprayed on him and it ignited since there were a lot of hot surfaces around. Sources said there was an explosion.
The employee’s whole body was on fire and he began to run to the ladder to get down from the platform where he was working.
AZP News was told that the employee could not have reached the ladder since there was a fire leading to it.
He was told to jump by his colleagues. When he jumped some men attempted to catch him but were unsuccessful and he sustained injuries to the back of his head and legs.
The man had to wait for more than three hours for an ambulance to arrive, AZP News was told.
He was taken to West Shore Medical Private Hospital in Cocorite where he is being treated for burns about 40% of his body.
There was also an explosion at the plant on April 7, 2021. It suffered an equipment failure during the start-up of the hydrocracker system. The explosion was heard miles away.
