Explosion at biomass plant kills three
The blast occurred at the Brilon chipboard plant in North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany, when a thermal-oil boiler exploded. This is the second fatal power plant-related explosion in less than week. The deaths in Brilon preceded the massive blast at the new Middletown Energy Center gas-fired power plant in Connecticut at the weekend, which blew part of the structure away, killing five contractors and injuring a dozen more.
Egger Group, the owners of the Brilon plant, said that a replacement boiler exploded. In a statement, the company said: "The accident occurred in the biomass heating plant on the premises of the Sauerland wood-based material manufacturer. A replacement boiler, which had been recently approved by a certified companyÂ… exploded. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. Egger is fully supporting these investigations.
Company management has informed the families of the deceased employees about the accident, expressed its condolences and pledged its support. The employees were aged 21, 59 and 62 years."
The explosion caused a fire, which took 47 fire fighters 90 minutes to bring under control. More than a 1,000 people are employed at the plant.
Related News

Can COVID-19 accelerate funding for access to electricity?
UGANDA - The time frame from final funding approval to disbursement can be the most painful part of any financing process, and the access-to-electricity sector is not spared.
Amid the global spread of the coronavirus over the last few weeks, there have been several funding pledges to promote access to electricity in Africa. In March, the African Development Bank and other partners committed $160 million for the Facility for Energy Inclusion to boost electricity connectivity in Africa through small-scale solar systems and minigrids. Similarly, the Export-Import Bank of the United States allocated $91.5 million for rural electrification in Senegal.
Rockefeller chief wants…