Ammonia and other Industrial Products in Kuwait (U)

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Ammonia and other Industrial Products in Kuwait (U)

Filename:051pgv.00p
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Subject:   Ammonia and other Industrial Products in Kuwait (U)


       There are several industrial substances produced or stored 
in Kuwait which must be considered as potentially hazardous if 
they escape into the environment.  Among these are ammonia and 
chlorine.  The following five facilities either produce or store 
these products in significant quantities to present a hazard.


Name                                              COORDINATES

ASH SHUAYBAH FERTILIZER PLANT                      290140N 
04809120

ASH SHUAYBAH LIQUID CHLORINE PLANT                290225N  
0480845E

ARDIYA LIQUID CHLORINE STORAGE SITE               29l730N  
0475515E

JAHANRA LIQUID CHLORINE STORAGE SITE              29l943N  
0474351E

REQQAE LIQUID CHLORINE STORAGE SITE               29091ON  
0480420E


       In addition to the fire and explosion hazards normally 
associated with petroleum refineries and fuel storage depots, 
Kuwait's Al Ahmadi LPG plant presents a very significant danger.  
The LPG processing units are not operating and may have been 
purged with nitrogen gas (inert).  There are, however, thirteen 
storage tanks that are either empty or partially filled with 
propane and butane.  As such, the storage tanks have a highly 
explosive
potential in the event of rupture and ignition by weapons.  
Collateral effects of an exploding LPG tank (blast wave and 
shrapnel) would extend into the Al Ahmadi refinery, and possibly 
into the Ash Shuaybah refinery.  Importantly, explosion of one 
storage tank will likely lead to rupture and ignition of adjacent 
tanks.  Reporting indicates that as of late November there was an
inventory of 150,000 barrels of propane and butane left in the 
storage tanks.  This volume has probably not been drawn down.

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