Co-op refinery’s emergency response team deals with smoke buildup

Some workers at Regina’s Co-op Refinery Complex had to deal with a buildup of smoke Tuesday due to a leak in one of the facility’s machines.

Refinery spokesperson Brad DeLorey said the smoke was the result of a leaking flange in the unit where heavy crude is treated before it becomes diesel fuel. The alarm was sounded just after 3:30 p.m., DeLorey said.

“All people are accounted for. Everyone is safe,” he said.

DeLorey said the leak resulted in high pressure and high heat, which created smoke.

He said the refinery’s on-site emergency response team was managing the incident.

“Our focus right now is with the emergency response team to get the situation completely under control,” DeLorey said.

He said the extent of the damage will be discovered after an investigation.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected to reflect that workers remained at the facility while the situation was addressed.