Ahmadinejad unhurt during refinery explosion in Iran, 2 killed

[News_Editor]

Ahmadinejad unhurt during refinery explosion in Iran, 2 killed

2011-05-24 19:58:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

ABADAN, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- An explosion at an Iranian oil refinery on Monday killed at least two people and injured twelve others in the southwestern region of the country, officials said.

The explosion occurred during the inauguration ceremony of a gasoline production unit in Abadan Refinery, located in Iran's southwestern province of Khuzestan, and was attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mehr news agency reported, adding that firefighters were able to control and extinguish the fire almost immediately.

Majlis Energy Committee chief Hamidreza Katuzian ruled out speculations about a planned act of sabotage, arguing that the committee had previously warned of these possible accidents if the project was launched without adequate preparations.

According to reports, the explosion was caused by gas leaking out of one of the refinery's units.

President Ahmadinejad and government officials sustained no injuries during the incident, while the twelve wounded people were transported to a local hospital in Abadan.

The gasoline unit, which is expected to produce the best ever quality gasoline with the octane number of 94, is projected to produce 4.2 million liters of gasoline per day.

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