Suncor Montreal refinery unaffected by truck blast
* Truck explodes at loading terminal
* Refinery operating normally
* Eight taken to hospital for assessment (Recasts with truck blast, adds company comments)
CALGARY, Alberta, April 27, 2010 (Reuters) – A truck at Suncor Energy Inc’s Montreal refinery exploded on Tuesday, sending eight people to hospital but having no impact on the plant’s operations, the company said on Tuesday.
The blast occurred at 4:45 p.m. local time (2045 GMT) as the truck was at the 130,000 barrel a day refinery’s loading terminal, Suncor spokeswoman Sneh Seetal said. The fire was extinguished within an hour, she said.
“There’s no impact on refinery operations,” Seetal said. “The refinery continues to operate safely, producing product. The cause of the incident is unknown at this time.”
The company said all workers were accounted for, and eight people had been taken to hospital for assessment. It had earlier said four were transported to hospital.
The refinery, located in Montreal’s east end, is due to undergo five weeks of planned maintenance beginning April 28. (Reporting by Jeffrey Jones; editing by Rob Wilson and Marguerita Choy)