Two injured in Nottingham gas explosion

TWO men have been seriously injured in a gas explosion at the Colwick Industrial Estate in Nottingham, UK just after 10:00 local time on 20 September.

Nottinghamshire Police said that it had received reports of a gas explosion and the collapse of a tanker at the site at 10:15 and attended the scene alongside the ambulance and fire services. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the explosion occurred at BioDynamic, a waste-to-energy plant which produces power for 2,000 homes by burning biogas from 50,000 m³/y of food waste in its combined heat and power (CHP) units. One witness told the BBC that a 30’ (9 m) gas tank exploded and was lying across the road.

East Midlands Ambulance service confirmed to The Chemical Engineer that paramedics from its Hazardous Area Response Team had attended the scene. Bob Winter, East Midlands Ambulance Service medical director said in a statement that two patients were treated at the scene before being taken to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre by ambulance.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “We have responded to the slurry pollution from the anaerobic digester at the Colwick site. The pollution has been contained and the clearup is now underway.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue are investigating the incident, which is not thought to be terror-related.