Ernesto Gálvez, the Production Director of the Cienfuegos Cement Factory, provided clarifications regarding the recent accident that resulted in one fatality and five injuries. The incident occurred due to the collapse of a hopper, causing an unexpected spill of extremely hot material.
"At 2:05 p.m., the flour hopper of the electrofilter in kiln three collapsed. This collapse led to a spill of hot flour, which caused the unfortunate accident," Gálvez explained in statements to the telecenter Perla Visión.
"We are still investigating the cause of the hopper's collapse," the director added, clarifying that there was no boiler explosion. "We do not use boilers. We use solid fuel. We do not generate steam nor have boilers at the plant," he said, detailing that the function of the electrofilter is "to remove dust from the air."
Although Gálvez mentioned that the causes are under investigation, he hinted at a possible "overload of the collapsed hopper."
"Everything is currently calm and normal at the plant, and we are in the process of investigating the incident," the director emphasized.
Gálvez indicated that to ensure safety, and given the high temperature of the spilled material, debris removal was not scheduled until Wednesday morning.
He noted that they expect to restore normal operations at the plant with the assistance of specialized technical forces from the province and the country, but did not specify when the plant might be operational again.
Understanding the Cienfuegos Cement Factory Accident
In light of the recent accident at the Cienfuegos Cement Factory, here are some frequently asked questions to better understand the situation and its implications.
What caused the accident at the Cienfuegos Cement Factory?
The accident was caused by the collapse of a hopper in the electrofilter of kiln three, leading to an unexpected spill of hot material.
Were there any explosions during the incident?
No, there were no explosions. The factory uses solid fuel and does not have boilers or generate steam.
What is the current status of the plant?
The plant is currently calm and normal, with ongoing investigations into the incident. Debris removal was scheduled for Wednesday morning.
When will the plant resume normal operations?
The exact date for the plant to be operational again has not been specified. Efforts are underway with the help of specialized technical forces.