Tag: gas leakage

Engro Polymer stops production activities on SEPA notice

KARACHI: The production activities have been stopped at plant of Engro Polymer and Chemicals located at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, said a statement on Monday.

The production activities have been stopped after Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) took notice of gas leakage incident at the plant.

The company in a notification informed the stock market: “In relation to isolated incident reported to Pakistan Stock Exchange on March 06, 2020, Engro Polymer and Chemicals Limited (ECPL) has received a notice under Section 21(2) of Sindh Environment Protection Act, 2014 from the Enviornmental Protection Agency Government of Sindh. The notice has directed EPCL to stop all production activities at the plant and fixed a hearing on March 10. In compliance with the notice, all production activities are on hold at the plant.”

Earlier on Friday March 6, 2020 the incident was reported at Engro Polymer and Chemcial.
In a statement the company said that it was gathering complete details related to the incident.

“Based on initial reports, some people have been shifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment of vomiting/nausea condition,” it said.

The company’s staff is accompanying these people to ensure that they receive adequate medical treatment, it said. “No injuries or fatalities have been reported,” the company added.

It further said that specific areas of the plant have been taken offline as a precautionary measure, and the company will conduct a complete and thorough investigation into the incident and will keep the stock exchange informed with any material developments in the matter.

March 9, 2020
Gas leakage incident occurs at Engro chemical plant

KARACHI: Engro Polymer and Chemcial said that an isolated incident of gas leak occurred it plant at Port Qasim on Friday morning.

In a statement the company said that it was gathering complete details related to the incident.

“Based on initial reports, some people have been shifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment of vomiting/nausea condition,” it said.

The company’s staff is accompanying these people to ensure that they receive adequate medical treatment, it said. “No injuries or fatalities have been reported,” the company added.

It further said that specific areas of the plant have been taken offline as a precautionary measure, and the company will conduct a complete and thorough investigation into the incident and will keep the stock exchange informed with any material developments in the matter.

March 6, 2020
Port Qasim advised to ensure environmental compliance in unloading soybean cargo

KARACHI: Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has asked Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to ensure environmental compliance while unloading soybean cargo, officials said on Saturday.

In a letter sent to PQA, the SEPA said that an incident was occurred on February 16, 2020 at Kemari and in the vicinity of Karachi Port Trust regarding deterioration of Air Quality due to dust emission.

“As reported by the office of Commissioner Karachi on February 19, 2020 regarding the said incident that 10 persons died and 300 persons were affected in the area.”

The SEPA further said that International Centre of Chemical and Biological University of Karachi has reported that soybean dust containing allergies were released from the ship was the main cause of said incident. It is now learnt through reliable sources that the same ship is intended to shift to Port Qasim for its further unloading.

In this context, “it must be ensured that the dust emission expected to be emitted from the ship should be controlled for protection of human health and life.”

“All precautionary measures must be ensured, so that adverse impact does not arise to the labors working at port and the population residing in the surroundings.”

The SEPA also advised that PQA must submit plan to carryout Ambient Air Quality monitoring regularly thereby installation of Ambient Air Quality monitoring stations on permanent basis within the jurisdiction, mainly due to handling of coal and other air pollution sources including power plant and industries, as well as construction of projects.

The agency asked the PQA to ensure the environmental compliance due to port operation and other installation/industries, in true spirit for improvement of air quality within the jurisdiction of Port Qasim.

February 29, 2020
Many fuel stations shut down after sudden demand, supply suspension rumors

Panic gripped Karachi on Wednesday evening as numerous fuel stations were forced to shut down following a surge in demand sparked by rumors of a fuel supply suspension.
(more…)

February 20, 2020
No link of toxic gas leakage with soybean cargo: Shipping agents

KARACHI: Shipping agents association has strongly condemned the linking of toxic gas leakage with soybean cargo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday they said that the first casualty was reported hours before discharging of soybean at Karachi Port Trust.

The statement issued by Ships Agents Association and Stevedoring Conference, stated: “We strongly condemn the rumors that are circulating targeting Soybean cargo which was being discharged partly at Karachi Port Trust at berth no. 10/11 east wharf.”

“It may be noted that cargo was discharged only during night of Sunday February 16, 2020 (discharging commenced at 19:00 hours) and day of Monday February 17, 2020 (discharging stopped at about 22:00 hours).”

Total of more than 600 labor worked on the ship none of them have been affected, it said.

This cargo has been arriving at Karachi Port since the last many years and up till now not a single incident has occurred or has been reported.

When the cargo was being discharged the wind direction was North East (NE) which means that it was towards Manora direction not towards land.

“We wish to also point out that the first person who was hospitalized was before the ship commenced discharging,” it said.

Ship Agents Association and Stevedoring Conference strongly advise that we should try and investigate the true nature of this incident considering the ground realities rather than getting involved in rumor mongering or speculation.

This cargo is used to make edible oil i.e. it is a agricultural commodity and does not have chemicals in it.

Plant Protection department visited the ship on February 18, 2020 with gas detectors to check for any harmful or toxic gases. “No gases were detected,” it said.

“We strongly recommend that this ship should not be shifted and cargo should be discharged at Karachi Port only.

“We confirm that we along with labor force of about 2 to 3,000 will stay at Karachi Port Trust berth during discharging operations. We must have the courage of our convictions,” according to the statement.

February 19, 2020
High pollutants identified at Kemari; preliminary report on toxic gas released

KARACHI: A preliminary report related to toxic gas leakage near port area revealed high pollutants with presence of lethal gases.

Global Environment Lab Private Limited on Tuesday issued its preliminary report related to incident of poisonous gas leakage in Kemari, Karachi.

It said that recent incident of leakage of mysterious gas in the vicinity of Kemari, Karachi on February 17, 2020, claimed the lives of 11 people and affected hundreds of people as per media reports. However, the source of this gas is yet to be confirmed.

Global Environmental Lab Pvt. Ltd. being socially responsible entity voluntarily monitored the air quality on number of locations on the request of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).

The objective was to assess the presence of toxic gases and their levels in the area. Levels of CO, NO. H2S, SO2, VOCs, O3, PM2.0 and PM2.5 were assessed.

“The level of all pollutants were found to be higher than the allowable limits when monitored aournd midnight near Ziauddin Hospital Kemari,” the report said.

However, the main source of gas leakage and reason for fatalities is yet to be confirmed.

“The higher levels of pollutants at sea view are need to be assessed further as they may be due to local factors,” it added.

February 18, 2020
Poisonous gas incident: KCCI criticizes NDMA

KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday criticized the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for not responding to the tragic incident of poisonous gas leakage in Kemari area, which claimed six lives.

Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, President, KCCI while expressing deep concerns over the death of six people and hospitalization of dozens of others on Sunday night in Kemari area due to diffusion poisonous gas in the air, stated that it was really unfortunate and worrisome to see that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which was established with a prime objective to respond to such calamities, neither reached the affected area to rescue and find out the causes nor bothered to give any statement over the tragic incident.

“Is NDMA responsible for responding only to those disasters in which more than 100 casualties occur”, he asked, adding that life of a single innocent person in such a calamity is also equally important hence, the NDMA and others must respond as quickly as possible.

Agha Shahab stressed that NDMA should have rapidly responded to this particular incident in Kemari as soon as the first causality was reported but unfortunately, people kept losing their lives and dozens were hospitalized while the disaster management authority was not seen anywhere around and only a handful of the volunteers from Edhi and Chhipa reached the spot to rescue the affectees.

He further urged that the concerned authorities must thoroughly investigate and find out the exact source of poisonous gas and accordingly take strict measures to avoid such incidents in future. “A Rapid Response Force must be established to deal with such calamities in Karachi as it is not the first time when people lost their lives. People are losing their lives in various incidents including fire eruptions, explosions caused by gas cylinders, buildings’ collapse and fatal road accidents etc. but no dedicated and fully equipped Rapid Response Force exists in the city that always results in raising the number of casualties”, he added.

He was of the opinion that all such incidents remain confined to just summoning a report by the Chief Minister but no concrete step has ever been taken to minimize the loss of precious lives which is really worrisome for business community and the citizens of Karachi.

He said that all the financial resources of Karachi are being utilized to run the entire country but a meager amount was hardly being spent on the city’s development. In response to Kemari incident, Federal Minister for Maritime Ali Zaidi stated that KPT has no resources to deal with such tragedies while the Sindh government and Mayor KMC are also complaining about having limited or no resources. It appears that Karachi, which contributes more than 70 percent revenue to the national exchequer is constantly being neglected by all three tiers of the government and continues to receive step motherly treatment, he added.

February 17, 2020
Port activity remains normal, no gas leakage reported: KPT chairman

KARACHI: Rear Admiral Jameel Akhtar, Chairman, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on Monday said that the port activities are remained normal and there is no incident of gas leakage reported in port area.

He was addressing press conference following the poisonous gas claimed five lives last day in Kemari near the Karachi Port.

“I assure all that there is no leakage of any poisonous gas from port area,” he said, adding that the movement to and from city to the port area are remained normal.

He said that handling of containers was normal at all berths of the port. “Nothing was happened at oil insulation area,” he said, adding that if such thing was happened how could it was possible that port staff worked normally.

The chairman said that federal minister for ports and shipping had also visited the affected areas.

The chairman said that the authorities were grieved over human losses.

February 17, 2020
Clearance resumes as EPA clears Custom House building

KARACHI: Customs clearance has been resumed after a briefed period of closure as Environment Protection Agency (EPA) cleared the Custom House Karachi from any threat owing to spread of toxic gas.

Wasif Memon, Chief Collector Pakistan Customs, on Monday said that all customs clearance operation had been resumed.

He said that EPA had cleared the building and there was no threat detected.

He said that National Bank branch of Custom House, Karachi was also started receiving duty and taxes for customs clearance.

Earlier in the day the port activities and customs clearance were suspended as precautionary measures in the wake of mysterious toxic gas which claimed at least five lives.

The unidentified leakage of poisonous gas claimed around five lives and around 100 were faint yester day. The authorities have so far unable to find out the root cause of the gas leakage.

An official at Pakistan Customs said that the Custom House Karachi had been evacuated as precautionary measures as officials were facing breathing problems.

“Not a single person at Custom House Karachi was faint,” said Syed Ifran Ali, senior customs official. “However, taking precautionary measures the Custom House has been evacuated,” he added.

He said that customs clearing has also been suspended and main branch of National Bank at Custom House, Karachi was also closed.

The official said that the port activities had also been suspended while taking precautionary measures.

February 17, 2020
Customs clearance suspended due to mysterious gas threat

KARACHI: Port activities and customs clearance were suspended on Monday as precautionary measures in the wake of mysterious toxic gas which claimed at least five lives.

The unidentified leakage of poisonous gas claimed around five lives and around 100 were faint yester day. The authorities have so far unable to find out the root cause of the gas leakage.

An official at Pakistan Customs said that the Custom House Karachi had been evacuated as precautionary measures as officials were facing breathing problems.

“Not a single person at Custom House Karachi was faint,” said Syed Ifran Ali, senior customs official. “However, taking precautionary measures the Custom House has been evacuated,” he added.

He said that customs clearing has also been suspended and main branch of National Bank at Custom House, Karachi was also closed.

The official said that the port activities had also been suspended while taking precautionary measures.

A day earlier leakage of poisonous gas from unknown place on Sunday killed at least four people and faint many others.

Sources said that the location of gas leakage was still unknown. At first instance it was assumed that a shipped docked at the Karachi Port was main reason for gas leakage. However, port authorities rejected such claims saying no such ship was arrived at the port.

Faisal Edhi of Edhi Foundation has confirmed four deaths due to the incidents. “Two bodies were at Ziauddin Hospital and other two were at Kutyana Memon Hospital,” he said.

Faisal Edhi further said that the effected persons due to gas leakages were brought at the nearby hospitals of Kharadar and Kemari.

Ali Zaidi, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, in a tweet message said that he was shocked on the casualties due to poisonous gas.

“The incident was not occurred at the port. However, officials of Karachi Port Trust (KTP) have been sent to the location for the investigation,” he added.

He requested everyone to refrain from making any comments on the media till the facts are not known.

February 17, 2020