Boston, MA 04/23/2014 (wallstreetpr) – On April 21, residents of Chalmette and Meraux reported a loud sound followed by a strong odour coming from Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)’s Meraux Refinery. The officials confirmed that there was a problem with the heater in the benzene unit and so the sound and odour. While the claim of explosion, by neighbours was slammed by Valero’s spokesman Bill Day, he said that the cause is still under investigation.
Refinery had problem with its Benzene Unit and residents faced the problems
Some of the neighbours claimed to see a large dusty opaque dust cloud coming from the refinery while others reported an explosion. The incident was reported to The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality about 5 a.m.
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is a Fortune 500 company, which is in manufacturing and marketing of transportation fuels, petrochemical products and power. The company bought the Meraux Refinery from Murphy Oil USA (NYSE:MUR) in the fall of 2011 for about $325 million plus $300 million worth of hydrocarbon inventory on hand.
Bill Day went on to clarify that the officials at the refinery have confirmed it was a detonation not explosion which means it was a contained ignition of substances. He ensured there were no emission permit exceeding or off-site impacts other than noise.
DEQ spokesperson Jean Kelly said that the issue with the benzene unit was immediately secured and there were no injuries.
A few weeks back on March 22, there was a flaring event with odours, in the same refinery. The main reason, which had come out was the scheduled maintenance of various units which were under turn around, in addition to revamping project currently going on with hydrocracker unit.
Last month, Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) had announced that Bill Klesse, 67, has decided to step down as the Chief Executive Officer effective May, 1 and Joe Gorder, 56, will be filling in his shoes.
