Gas leak kills two at Pakistan heavy water facility

08 April 2008

[Associated Press, Kyodo, 8 April] At least two people have died following a gas leak at the Khushab heavy water production facility in Punjab, according to officials from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). The facility, which was shut down for annual maintenance, has been evacuated. GEO TV reported that the leakage occurred after explosions in the cylinders of hydrogen phosphate used to produce heavy water. "All necessary steps were taken, including evacuation of personnel as a precautionary measure," the PAEC said. "The situation was immediately brought under control, and two workers lost their lives while controlling the incident. There is no threat to public life," the commission added. The heavy water plant was commissioned in 1998. A 50 MWt pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) is also in operation at the Khushab site, which PAEC says is for research. A similar or possibly larger heavy water reactor has been under construction at Khushab since about 2002.

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