Serious questions needed to be asked about the safety of the Irish Fertilisers Industries plant at Cork harbour following the latest incident at the weekend, the Cork Environmental Alliance warned last night.
Mr Derry Chambers, a spokesman for the alliance, said the emergency shutdown on Sunday evening, following which two staff members were treated for minor injuries, was almost identical to a similar incident last July. He said up to 50,000 tonnes of ammonia were stored at the 30-year-old facility and the consequences of an even bigger accident were "unthinkable".
Mr Chambers said the authorities had not exercised proper vigilance over IFI and the plant was being allowed to operate without due safety controls. During last weekend's emergency shutdown, excess gas had to be burned off, sending a huge sheet of fire into the night air and leading to what local residents described as frightening thunderbursts. Residents living close to the plant found their windows rattling and experienced searing heat once they went outdoors.
Yesterday a number of locals called for the plant to be closed down. Mr Pat Deady, from Lower Belvelly, said he was about to retire for the night when he heard what sounded like a loud explosion. The plant, he added, was too old and should not be allowed to continue functioning.
The emergency closedown was ordered by the company at 8 p.m. on Sunday when an ammonia pump failed. During this incident, two operators received minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to the Cork University Hospital. Hospital authorities said yesterday that both workers were in good condition.
A spokesman for the company said the plant was very well maintained and did not pose a risk to the locality. However, residents of the Lower Harbour area have complained repeatedly that IFI's emergency shutdown procedures are disruptive and at times frightening to local residents.
It is understood that the Environmental Protection Agency is awaiting a full report from the company and will conduct its own inquiry to determine what future action might be necessary. Mr Chambers said last night the Cork Environmental Alliance would not be issuing a statement concerning the shutdown "because we're sick and tired of complaining about IFI. It is high time that the relevant authorities did something about this plant," he added.
In a statement, the Green Party said the IFI shutdown and implementation of the emergency plan raised more serious questions about the regularity of such incidents.
Mr Dan Boyle, who represents the party on Cork Corporation, said: "One factor that could be compromising safety at the plant is uncertainty over its future. As a joint venture between the British multinational ICI and the Irish Government, it seems that both parties want out of the arrangement, which must be leading to fears that the necessary maintenance may not be followed to the extent it should be.