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The disaster in Beirut is suspected to have occurred when 2,750 tons of nitrate exploded, which was confiscated from the Russians a few years ago. More than 100 people died, more than 4,000 more. were injured.
PHOTO GALLERY. Residents are scared by dangerous substances stored in Klaipeda
Klaipėda Council Member Nika Puteikienė announced directly from Klaipėda on Friday that “45 wagons were parked in the port of Klaip puertoda on Friday afternoon, and one wagon contains 60 tonnes of nitrate.” This is a similar amount to the explosion in Beirut.
During the press conference, the material, photos and images were presented directly from the port of Klaipeda. Journalist Kristupas Krivickas also spoke at the press conference.
“The amounts are so huge that the consequences for the city of Klaipeda would be tragic. This situation could be described as a threat to national security.
Experts found that the same material triggered a huge explosion of destructive power in Beirut port on Tuesday, killing hundreds, injuring thousands and completely destroying part of the city, “Krivickas explained at a news conference.
K. Krivickas stated that he was concerned about the possible recurrence of a similar situation by residents of the city of Klaipeda who live near the port of Klaipeda.
“People are afraid and have a reason to do so. This is a great threat as residents’ houses are 200 meters from this dangerous fertilizer. {…} In certain circumstances, they can be detonated unintentionally.
This is a dangerous ammonium nitrate. The quantities are enormous: tens of tons. Ammonia tanks are around the corner and the Independence gas terminal is around the corner.
This is a completely ridiculous situation that threatens security. It would be very different from Alytus where the tires get burned. When a precedent occurs, the question arises of how we handle threats, because now we are sitting on a powder keg, ”said K. Krivickas.
Klasco and Bega ensure that ammonium fertilizers are safely loaded in the port of Klaipeda
Klasco and Bega, companies that handle ammonium fertilizers in the port of Beirut, are believed to have caused a powerful explosion in the port of Beirut, believed to have been caused by ammonium nitrate stored in Klaipeda.
According to Vytautas Štumbergas, Klasco’s interim manager, the fertilizer remains in the port for up to a few days and is not stored, unlike in Beirut.
“We load this product directly from the wagon to the ships. The storage, in practice if there is Australia, is only available in big bags, according to all the standards and requirements. There can be no more than 700 tons of short-term storage in Lithuania, ”V. Štumbergas told BNS.
According to him, the big bags have four layers and protect the fertilizer from contact, moisture, sunlight or other factors. They contain 500 kilograms of fertilizer.
Gediminas Gudavičius, head of the Bega Information and Communication Group, also emphasizes that fertilizers are not stored in the port. According to him, ammonium nitrate is up to 1 percent. stevedoring company.
“There is a lot of legislation under which the whole process is carried out, there are plans, there are inspections, plan reviews, security exercises. There are legal acts of the European Union and, at the national level, they indicate how to prepare, ”G. Gudavičius told BNS.
According to Klasco, during production, ammonium nitrate is mixed with inert substances, magnesium nitrate, and this compound has practically no explosive properties. These fertilizers are produced by Achema Group, which owns Klasco and operates the Jonava Achema nitrogen fertilizer plant.
“It just came to our knowledge then. And another thing, nitrate itself is explosive at very high temperatures. To reach such a high temperature, as in Lebanon, there was a big fire, it was stored in a closed warehouse. With us, this storage interior is not possible at all ”, explained the interim manager of Klasco.
“If that product was so dangerous, factories couldn’t even function. And there, if the quality of the product is stored for a long time and it is not clear, it may have completely petrified ”, he added.
Last year, Klasco handled 280,000. tons of ammonium nitrate: represents 2.3 percent. With Klasco’s annual cargo turnover, fertilizers are generally transported in small boats.
“When a buyer, for example in the West, buys, it is a coordinated arrival and arrival of the ship, and the quantities are very small, transported in small ships up to 3,000. tons, ”said V. Stumberg.
Klasco ensures that the handling of ammonium nitrate is inspected annually by a commission made up of representatives of the Fire and Rescue Service. Last inspected in May 2019, the new inspection will take place August 17-20.
“This product, since ancient times, when there were no regulations, it was transported from all over the Soviet Union, the quantities were unlimited, they were brutal, and the cargo was not clear, and now there are strict requirements, not just imu and cargo.” – The head of Klasco spoke with BNS.
Klasco handles and stores bulk liquid and packaged fertilizers, sugar raw materials, metal products and raw materials, frozen foods, cereals and other bulk and bulk cargoes at five terminals.
Bega handles liquid and bulk, construction, food, agricultural and other chemicals.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, and users of chemicals and mixtures must report them annually.
Last year, 867.3 thousand were sold in Lithuania. tons of ammonium nitrate, the agency said. It states that it does not collect data on stored quantities.
Ammonium nitrate is most commonly used as a fertilizer or in the manufacture of fertilizers.
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