Major Hazard Risk Assessment on Ammonia Storage at Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) in Aqaba, Jordan

摘要

The aim of this paper is to discuss the risks associated with the storage of liquid ammonia in an industrial facility close to the Red Sea (Jordan, Aqaba region). This region has a unique ecosystem where touristic and industrial facilities coexist. Therefore, the identification of the accidental scenarios that may harm people or the environment is very important in order to assess the effectiveness of the existent safety measures and to recommend additional ones for improvement. Liquid ammonia is delivered to the facility in a dedicated port on the Red Sea and pumped through a 1.6 km long pipe to the two storage tanks of 30,000 and 10,000 ton. A risk analysis was conducted together with the technical staff of the facility as part of the Cleaner Production Project financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco). The "worst case" scenarios identified were: 1. Total rupture of the ammonia storage tank with a capacity of 30,000 ton. 2. Total rupture of ammonia feeding pipeline from ship. 3. Hole (crack) in ammonia storage tank. 4. Ammonia vapor release through the safety valves of the storage tank with a capacity of 30,000 ton. 5. Hole in ammonia feeding pipeline during the unloading The existing safety measures proved to be sufficient. However, it was recommended to provide an automatic foam installation on the bund of the tanks and better protection of the pipeline in order to improve the safety of the storage facility.