'Dust gas' explosion damages silo at Mowi feed plant
An explosion has occurred in a silo at salmon farmer Mowi’s feed factory in Bjugn, Norway.
“All employees have been accounted for and no one has been injured. There is only material damage to one silo. We will have to come back to cause and consequences later,” Mowi communications manager Ola Helge Hjetland told Fish Farming Expert’s Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no.
The factory, which was opened in 2014, is one of the world's largest, employing just under 70 employees and producing around 400,000 tonnes of feed a year.
The police service in Trøndelag reported on X (Twitter) that a dust gas explosion had occurred at the plant and later added that it was probably overheating in a conveyor belt which ignited the fishmeal, and which had probably caused the explosion.
No fire
Gunnar Sundli, duty leader in the fire service, told news outlet VG (Verdens Gang) that all persons have been accounted for and the area had been evacuated.
“There is talk of a dust gas explosion in a silo where fishmeal is stored. There is damage to the top of the silo, but there is no fire. There is some unsecured wreckage hanging out of the silo - work is being done to secure it,” Sundli told VG.
The fire service was notified of the incident at 10.08 CET and arrived 10 minutes later. The fire extinguished itself after the explosion, according to the fire service.
