Blaze at refinery 'under control'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6083542.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A fire at India's largest oil refinery in Gujarat state has been brought under control, Reliance Industries says.

The blaze at Jamnagar injured at least one person, said officials at the company, which owns the plant.

Fire broke out in an area where crude oil was being cleaned, and several nearby units were closed. The firm says damage is still being assessed.

Analysts say any prolonged closure of the Jamnagar refinery would hit India's production of liquefied petroleum gas.

'Don't worry'

Reliance officials said the fire started on Wednesday morning and damaged a hydrotreater which removes sulphur from heavy feedstock.

"We have shut only a few neighbouring units of the hydrotreater and all other key units are functioning," P Raghavendran, head of Reliance's refining business, told Reuters news agency.

"The total product availability and the extent of the damage will be known only after a few hours.

He did not know how much output would be affected, but added: "We can also make good the shortfall of feedstock by importing. There is no reason to worry as such."

One person at the plant had been seriously injured but there were no other casualties, a company statement said.

The Press Trust of India quoted witnesses saying they had seen flames and billowing smoke coming from the refinery and large numbers of fire engines being called out.

Jamnagar is the world's third largest refinery, Reliance says.

The industrial giant was founded 46 years ago by one of India's most famous entrepreneurs, Dhirubhai Ambani, originally to trade in polyester yarn.