Sasol Polymer’s ethylene plant was undergoing maintenance

Six people were killed and many injured in an explosion at Sasol Polymer’s ethylene plant in Secunda, east of Johannesburg, yesterday.

The chemical and fuel company said two Sasol and four contractor employees were among the dead. It said five people remained in intensive care and 15 remained in general hospital wards.

The plant was part of Sasol Polymer’s chemicals production, the company said. It said the plant was undergoing planned maintenance at the time of the incident.

Sasol and the South African government have begun investigations to determine the cause of the incident. In a statement the company said indications were that the incident was caused when a gas cloud, due to a gas leak, ignited.