Kaiser Suspects Power Failure Caused Blast At Gramercy Plant

Kaiser Aluminum officials say they believe that a power system failure caused the July 5 explosion at the company’s Gramercy, La. refinery.

The company says that when a power interruption caused process flow pumps to quit operating, pressure built and caused the explosion that injured 24 and hospitalized six.

The blast also shattered windows and damaged homes and property near the plant.

“First and foremost, we are pleased that the health of our injured employees is improving,” said George Haymaker Jr., Kaiser chairman and CEO. “This has been a difficult experience, and we are taking steps to prevent such an incident from ever occurring again in a Kaiser facility.”

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration is still investigating the incident.

“Now we’re questioning people who have knowledge about plant operations, people who have knowledge of the explosions, current workers and also workers who are on strike,” said Rodney Brown, spokesman for the federal agency.

Some of that questioning will occur at public hearings that the agency has scheduled, starting Sept. 8, in nearby Convent, La. The site was chosen so the sessions could accommodate at least 100 people who want to sit in on the questioning.