1 Jun 2011 14:33
Nature Group PLC
Update on Industrial Accident
Nature Group Plc ("Nature" or the "Group"), the provider of port reception facilities and waste water treatment solutions for the oil, marine and process industries, provides an update on the explosion that occurred yesterday afternoon at its waste treatment facility in Gibraltar.
At around 3:30pm yesterday afternoon, an explosion occurred at waste reception tank number 2 located at Nature Port Reception Facilities Limited's ("NPRFL") waste treatment site at North Mole, Gibraltar. NPRFL is a subsidiary of Nature Group Plc, a company listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange.
Management note that media reports suggest the cause of the accident was welding work being undertaken on the tank.
Two workmen, employees of a subcontractor of NPRFL said to be carrying out the works, were injured in the blast, one of whom is being treated for "serious, extensive and life threatening burns". A local police officer also suffered minor injuries.
Gibraltar emergency services tackled the blaze all night, successfully extinguishing this in the early hours of the morning.
The Gibraltar Government's Civil Contingencies Committee was convened yesterday afternoon and monitored events through the night. An exclusion zone was set up and residents of the surrounding area were advised to keep their windows closed. There was no evacuation of residents living in the surrounding area.
The black smoke released from the tank was continuously monitored by local authorities, was said not to be hazardous to public health and had completely dissipated by the morning, blown away by easterly winds.
The cruise liner "Independence of the Seas" was moored at the cruise liner terminal adjacent to NPFRL's facility at the time of the explosion and swiftly pulled away. It has been reported that 12 passengers suffered minor injuries.
The extent of the damage is currently being assessed but it is thought that one tank has been completely destroyed, and the site has suffered considerable damage. NPRFL's directors and management staff have been co-operating with the local authorities and are working on a preliminary damage report and a contingency plan for Nature Group's Gibraltar operations.
The board of directors of Nature Group Plc emphasised that the incident was local in nature and in no way affects the operations of Nature Group Plc elsewhere.
Further details will be made known as soon as they become available.
ENDS
For further information please contact
Nature Group Plc
Richard Eldridge Chairman Tel 0044 1841 533611
Andreas Drenthen CEO Tel 0031 181 291144
Peter Snell FD Tel 0044 7000 892481
Northland Capital Partners (Nominated Adviser)
Shane Gallwey Tel 0044 2077 968823
Rod Venables Tel 0044 2077 968827
WH Ireland (Broker)
Sebastian Wykeham Tel 0044 2072 200473
Ruari McGirr Tel 0044 2072 201666
Hermes Financial PR
Chris Steele Tel 0044 7979 604687
Trevor Phillips Tel 0044 7889 153628