Explosion Rattles Regina Refinery, Injuring Two Workers

The Co-op Refinery Complex is shown in Regina on Jan. 22, 2020. The Canadian Press/Mark Taylor

An early morning explosion shook the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina on March 25, shutting down a processing unit and leaving two employees with minor injuries.

A fire ignited in a unit in section 3 of the refinery at approximately 4:45 a.m. local time, said the organization in a March 25 social media post. All employees were accounted for and two were assessed for minor injuries. The incident is still under investigation.

The Regina Fire Department was called to the scene at 4:49 a.m. In a social media update posted at 6:23 a.m., the department said refinery fire crews had the situation under control, and that they would remain ready to assist if needed.

The fire was contained and the area stabilized by 9 a.m., according to the refinery.

“The Refinery’s Emergency Response Team was able to act quickly and bring the incident under control,” said the organization in a social media post later in the day.

“We thank the Regina Fire Department for their immediate assistance as their teams worked with us to successfully contain the incident.”

The company issued an “all clear” in the evening, confirming the fire was contained to a single unit, which was shut down, while the rest of the refinery remained operational.

The Epoch Times contacted the refinery for updates on the investigation, but didn’t hear back by publication time. The Regina Police Service told The Epoch Times it provided basic traffic control at the onset of the incident but is not involved in the investigation.

Unifor 594, the union representing more than 700 workers at the refinery, welcomed the news that no serious injuries were reported.

“A heartfelt thank you to the first responders who protected our workplace and community this morning,” the union said in a social media post. “We are grateful everyone is safe.”

The March 25 explosion is not the first at the Regina Co-op Refinery Complex.

An explosion occurred at the refinery in the afternoon of Dec. 24, 2013, destroying equipment and structures around several reactors and refinery buildings. The blast, which left no injuries, was felt at locations outside the refinery.

The explosion was triggered by a rapid shift in outdoor temperature, which, coupled with heat from unit operations, caused the ice plug in a pipe to thaw and led to a sudden release of hydrocarbons and subsequent blast, according to a report by the Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan released the following year.

The refinery experienced another explosion and fire about two years previously, injuring 52 workers, three of whom sustained serious injuries. It received a fine of $280,000 for failing to comply with occupational health and safety legislation.