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Formosa transformer explodes

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  • Originally published May 8, 2008 at 11:19 a.m., updated May 8, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.

POINT COMFORT – A Formosa Plastics Corp. USA transformer exploded at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, shutting down power to most of the plant and generating ominous black smoke for most of the night.

No one was injured, said Calhoun County Sheriff B.B. Browning.

While the cause of the explosion was unknown Wednesday night, Browning said electrical work was performed on the plant earlier that day.

No one was working on or around the transformer when it caught fire, Jim Shephard, communications manager for Formosa, said. The transformer was in the electrical station just outside of Gate 3. Formosa will conduct an intensive investigation to make sure to prevent it from happening again.

“Everything is all right now,” he said. “The flare towers are smoking, which is what they’re supposed to do.”

Oil inside the transformer caught fire, sending flames out the flare towers and thick black smoke into the northwesterly winds.

“It’s going to have to burn itself out,” Browning said. “It looks bad, but they’re doing exactly what they’re supposed to do.”

Lacking power, Formosa’s steam plant could not operate and thus could not smother the smoke rising from the flare towers, Browning said.

Immediately after the explosion, state Highway 35 was blockaded near the plant. The road was re-opened at 8 p.m.

At 8:20 p.m., the Formosa power station came back up with half of the generators running, Shephard said. The plant will continue regular operating shifts at 6 a.m. today.

Shephard was unaware of any hazards caused to any surrounding areas.

In October 2005, explosions and fires at Formosa burned two workers, one seriously. Fourteen other workers sustained minor injuries while fleeing the plant.

The U. S. Chemical Safety Board later found that a large volume of propylene ignited after a forklift snagged a valve – releasing the chemical.



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