This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-13516440
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
'Blast' at new Iran oil refinery as Ahmadinejad visits | 'Blast' at new Iran oil refinery as Ahmadinejad visits |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least one person has been killed and 20 injured in a blast at an Iranian refinery around the time of a visit by Iran's president, local media say. | |
A technical problem caused the blast and then a fire, Fars news agency said. | A technical problem caused the blast and then a fire, Fars news agency said. |
Thick smoke was seen rising from the refinery but the fire was under control, the semi-official agency said. | Thick smoke was seen rising from the refinery but the fire was under control, the semi-official agency said. |
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was not injured, and made a televised speech to mark the opening of the oil refinery in the south-western city of Abadan. | |
A senior Iranian official said the incident was "not an act of intentional sabotage". | |
"Experts had forewarned that Abadan refinery was not ready to be inaugurated," Hamid-Reza Katouzian, head of Iran's parliamentary energy committee, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | |
"The incident in Abadan refinery was due to technical problems." | |
Another news agency, Mehr, said the explosion was caused by a gas leak and some employees inhaled toxic substances. | Another news agency, Mehr, said the explosion was caused by a gas leak and some employees inhaled toxic substances. |
It reported that at least two people had been killed. | |
Historical significance | Historical significance |
There were conflicting reports about whether the blast had occurred before, during or after Mr Ahmadinejad's visit. | |
In August last year, Iranian authorities denied that an explosive device had been thrown at Mr Ahmadinejad's convoy near the city of Hamedan. | |
Analysts say Mr Ahmadinejad is currently involved in a power struggle with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after the latter reinstated the intelligence minister the president tried to sack. | |
The refinery is being launched in two phases and ultimately will produce more than 6m litres (1.3m UK gallons) of petrol a day, mostly for domestic consumption. | The refinery is being launched in two phases and ultimately will produce more than 6m litres (1.3m UK gallons) of petrol a day, mostly for domestic consumption. |
Correspondents say Mr Ahmadinejad's presence shows the importance Iran, a major oil producer, places on increasing its refining capacity as sanctions hit its ability to import petrol. | Correspondents say Mr Ahmadinejad's presence shows the importance Iran, a major oil producer, places on increasing its refining capacity as sanctions hit its ability to import petrol. |
Accidents are relatively frequent in Iran's oil and gas infrastructure, and state media said similar incidents had been reported at the plant in the weeks before it opened. | Accidents are relatively frequent in Iran's oil and gas infrastructure, and state media said similar incidents had been reported at the plant in the weeks before it opened. |
There have also been media reports of two acts of sabotage against the main gas pipeline from the south to the capital Tehran, though they said supply was not affected. | There have also been media reports of two acts of sabotage against the main gas pipeline from the south to the capital Tehran, though they said supply was not affected. |
The port of Abadan has a special significance in Iranian history after post-war Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq nationalised the Iranian assets of the Anglo-Iranian oil company. | |
His move led eventually to a CIA-backed coup which overthrew him and led to decades of Iranian animosity towards the West. |