JBPM Contains Ammonia Gas Leak In Masjid Tanah Factory

ALOR GAJAH, June 7 (Bernama) -- The Melaka Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) brought a leak of anhydrous ammonia gas under control at a factory in Masjid Tanah Industrial Park, here today.

Head of Zone 2 and specialist in Hazardous Chemicals (HAZMAT) and CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives) of Melaka JBPM, Fire Superintendent Zulkhairani Ramli said his department received an emergency call at 1.47 am before a team of personnel was deployed to the location.

"The initial assessment established a 50-metre safety perimeter to conduct a risk assessment and the establishment of a hazard control zone, before gas concentration measurements were carried out.

"The initial concentration of ammonia gas was recorded at 300 ppm inside the building and 75 ppm outside the building. The team then sealed the tank valve before using vapour dispersion technic with water fog,” he said here today.

Zulkhairani said continuous monitoring found that the gas readings showed a decrease to 74 ppm (inside the building) and 35 ppm (outside the building), before decreasing to 50 ppm (inside the building) and 25 ppm (outside the building) before the operation was called off at 8.17 am.

He said the incident involved a leak in two ammonia tank units with a capacity of 2,600 litres with a total of approximately 5,200 litres of the substance at the premises in question.

He said the operation involved a force of 12 personnel including seven members of the Hazmat & CBRNe team from Alor Gajah and five members of Masjid Tanah station as well as the assistance of the police.

-- BERNAMA