VASILIKOS POWER STATION A SEVESO ESTABLISHMENT ECONOMOU EFTHYVOULOS Safety Officer Electricity Authority of Cyprus SEPTEMBER 2012 Contents • Cyprus Power Generation System • Vasilikos Power Station • Vasilikos Power Station as a Seveso Establishment • Vasilikos Power Station: The explosion incident • Restoration Project • The Power Station Today • Suggestions for measures Cyprus Power Generation System (data from year 2010) • Electricity production is the responsibility of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), which is an independent semi-government corporation. • EAC operates three power stations: 1. Moni Power Station : 330 MW 2. Dhekelia Power Station : 462 MW 3. Vasilikos Power Station : 648 MW • Total installed capacity before the explosion was 1440 MW within Cyprus. • Annual Generation: 5205GWh • Peak Demand: 1148MW • Power generation system is small and isolated with no interconnections. EAC Power Stations Vasilikos Power Station Before the Explosion • Capacity: 788MW (approximately 60% of the country’s energy) • Units operating to generate the above capacity: • • UNIT 1, 2 & 3 UNIT 4 Gas turbine Unit 5* 3x130MW = 390 MW 1x220MW = 220 MW 2x70MW = 140 MW • Gas turbine Black Start 1x38MW = 38 MW -------------788 MW • ======== • * Unit 5 under test period. Excluded from installed capacity • Vasilikos Power station employs 152 members of staff covering operational, administrational and maintenance aspects. • In view of the frequent extended dry seasons in Cyprus, EAC was granted permission for the construction of a SW-RO Desalination Plant 60000 m3/day at Vasilikos Power Station taking advantage of the co-location synergies between the Power Station and the Desalination Plant. • The Plant was planned to be completed in February 2013. Vasilikos Power Station as a Seveso Establishment The E.U. SEVESO II Directive • Requires for establishments handling dangerous substances, to take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and to limit their consequences for the people and the environment. • Vasilikos Power Station has to implement the Seveso II Regulations due to the storage of 69000 tones of diesel oil and 1.9 tones of Hydrazine [35% concentration] (upper Tier) • Vasilikos Power Station Established: I. II. III. IV. V. Major Accident Prevention Policy Safety Management System Internal Emergency Plan Methods to Inform the public (if necessary) A Safety report including information on: i. ii. Environment of the establishment Description of the installation including a listing of hazard on substances iii. Risk analysis and Prevention methods iv. Control and limitation of the consequences of an accident • In addition i. The EAC, provided the Civil Defense Department with all the information required for the realization of an external emergency plan, completed on November 2010. ii. Safety Report was completed in September 2007. iii. The final evaluations of the Safety Report from the responsible authority (Department of Labour Inspection) was in October 2008. iv. Once a year there was an inspection from the Department of Labour Inspection (2009, 2010). v. Every 5 years there is a revision of the Safety Report (October 2013). EVANGELOS FLORAKIS NAVAL BASE EXPLOSION INCIDENT 11TH JULY 2011 IMPACT ON VASILIKOS POWER STATION BEFORE THE INCIDENT VASILIKOS POWER PLANT (before explosions) • Vasilikos Power Station is the newest of the 3 Power Stations operated by EAC. It is located on the SE coast between Larnaca and Limassol. • The Station is manned by about 152 persons and includes Administration, Operation and Maintenance Departments. Shift personnel man the Plant 24 hrs a day on a 5 cycle (3x8 hrs) shift roster. • The Station has been provided with a Health and Safety Officer to support the development and implementation of Site Health and Safety policies and procedures. Εμπορευματοκιβώτια JUST AFTER THE EXPLOSION INCIDENT AT THE ADJACENT EVANGELOS FLORAKIS NAVAL BASE (11TH JULY 2011) VASILIKOS POWER PLANT (after the explosions) • • • On July 11th 2011, a series of explosions took place soon after 03:00 and a severe shock wave occurred at 5:48 am. It has been estimated that the explosion was of a magnitude equivalent to ~ 400 tones of TNT. This was due to explosives and other material(gun powder, propellants and metal parts for the manufacturing of ammunition) stored in a pile of 98 containers at the naval base. These containers were confiscated by the Government of Cyprus at Limassol Port on its way to Syria (February 2009), in compliance with a UN Security Council resolution enforcing an arms embargo against Syria. VASILIKOS POWER PLANT (after the explosions) • Thirteen (13) people were killed and 65 were injured, including twelve (12) members of the Power Station Night Shift personnel • The neighboring Vasilikos Power Plant (500 m) was severely damaged. A hill about 30 meters high was a barrier and prevented a complete destruction of the Plant. VASILIKOS POWER PLANT (after the explosions) • • The blasts resulted in an uncontrolled shutdown of the generating Units of the Station. Fires broke out in the Administration building, Turbine hall, contractor’s area and the trees on the hill west of the Station due to hot molten metal pieces, landing on them. Fortunately the metal pieces did not ignite the HFO or DFO tanks. • The affected area around the explosion site, was around 8km2 where about 4.200 people are living. • The fires were brought under control by the Cyprus Fire Brigade. Twelve (12) fire appliances and thirty (30) fire fighters were involved. • The environment impact of the accident was low as no major releases were experienced. Small scale spillages of substances like lubricants and fuel occurred inside buildings, but were effectively collected and stored by the station’s personnel Serious threat to personnel/visitors/contractors • The main Fire System was not operative. • Transfer fuel oil from damaged Tanks • Falling objects (cladding) from heights. • Dust in the atmosphere from insulation materials • Openings all over the plant • Major structures were critical for collapsing • Munitions fragments scattered all over in the Plant • Hazardous substances: - fuels (flammable) - H2SO4 (corrosive) -Hydrazine (toxic) -dust IMMEDIATE MEASURES TAKEN TO COPE WITH THE CRISIS ON SITE • Survey of all buildings by civil engineers team • All buildings were secured with suitable fencing and access restricted. • All personnel, visitors and contractors received Safety Induction Course on arrival. This Induction Course provided information and details of the hazards on site and what to do in case of an emergency. • Basic sanitary facilities were established • Removal of all Heavy Fuel Oil in the HFO Tanks and exported to Dhekelia and Moni Power Stations • Transfer of chemicals to safer locations e.g. Hydrazine • EAC developed an overall Health and Safety Plan for the site in conjunction with the main contractors. • A Cyprus Fire Brigade fire team was stationed at the Power Station until the 15th November, 2011 when the Station Fire System was repaired. • First Aid arrangements were made. • EAC personnel Fire Assembly Points were revised. • EAC Emergency Plan Arrangements were reviewed. • Police Experts checked and cleared for explosive Ordinance Disposal. • Permit for Hot Work and Electrical Work were issued. • Health & Safety Officer supported by 2 more officers. • Removal of dangerous falling objects (e.g. claddings), and cleaning of the main access road. Immediate measures to cope with electricity demand/supply problems 1. Dhekelia and Moni Power Stations -All generating units made available -All personnel summer annual leaves withdrawn 2. Black Start Gas Turbine (38MW) was employed since it didn’t suffer severe damages. 3. Temporary Generators (total capacity 180MW) were hired and installed. 4. 120MW made available from Turkish occupied areas. 5. EU Civil Protection mechanism • Mechanism activated on July 13th 2011 • 15 ECP experts arrived on the island on July 16th 2011 • Largest team ever deployed by the mechanism within EU • Mission Risk assessment • Health & Safety Issues • Damage assessment • Evaluation of reconstruction costs • The mechanism experts report was submitted on July 27th 2011 6. Electricity consumption savings by appealing to the consumers via the mass media. 7. Power interruption by rotation (consumers divided to 22 groups with interruption time 2-2.5 hours) 8. Main target: to maintain all economic activity giving priority to: -Tourist Industry -Industrial zones -Basic services Interruption measures removed: August 14th 2011 Vasilikos Power Station Restoration Project • For the restoration of the station, the largest team in the history of EAC was assembled. • The main aim was the safe, quick and cost effective restoration of the Power Station. Restoration Program VASILIKOS POWER PLANT CURRENT SITUATION Current Situation • The organizational structure at the site is currently the existing operational Power Station structure, supplemented by contractors who are working on the restoration sites. • Most of the main Fire System is operative. • Chemical substances have been transferred to Moni and Dhekelia Power Stations. • A Temporary Emergency Plan was developed and implemented. • All main contractors have a Health & Safety Plan in place and a Safety Coordinator, written risk assessments and method statements adapted at any risks of work that will be executed at the construction site. • Smoking is strictly prohibited at all areas of Vasilikos Power Station with the exception of designated areas. • Induction course is given to the Contractors Safety Coordinators by the EAC Safety Officer prior to works commencing. The contractors give induction courses to their personnel. Newcomers are inducted by the contractor Safety Coordinator. A list of those inducted is issued against their signature. SUGGESTIONS FOR MEASURES IS SEVESO II & III “STRONG” ENOUGH? FULFIL IT’S “SUBJECT MATTER”? MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ARE EXCLUDED BY THE SEVESO DIRECTIVE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS, IN MY OPINION, TO CHANGE. Include military establisments in the Seveso regulation for: • Land Use planning (SEVESO III, Reg. 13) • Domino effect (SEVESO III, Reg. 9) Dear guest Thank you for your patience. We wish you a pleasant visit at Vasilikos Power Station