Explosion hits South African’s Oil Refinery, Injures 11 people

 A blast on Monday at South Africa’s Natref oil refinery injured 11 people and forced the 108,000 barrel per day facility owned by Sasol and Total to be evacuated, emergency services ER 24 said.

Sasol confirmed on its website there had been an explosion at about 0545 GMT at the country’s only inland refinery, which is a joint venture between the petrochemicals group and the South African subsidiary of Total.

“We have to put out the fire first and then we can send in our guys in to asses the impact that the fire has caused,” Sasol spokesman Alex Anderson said, adding that he would give more information on the impact on production once it became available.