Shell UK fined £1 million over refinery blast

摘要

Energy giant Shell UK Ltd has been ordered to pay a total of £1.24 million in fines and costs following an explosion and fire at its Bacton gas terminal in Norfolk in February 2008. The terminal houses gas processing plants along with the Interconnector system feeding gas between Britain and Europe. Due to the large quantities of hazardous substances present on the site the terminal is classified as a top-tier site under the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations (COMAH). The explosion, which happened in the site's water treatment plant shortly before 6.00pm, blew the concrete roof off a buffering tank, hurling concrete and metal debris over a large area and sucking a nearby drain out of the ground.