An explosion at a US Steel coking plant near Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania has left one person killed and several others trapped beneath the rubble on Monday. As per officials, emergency crews rushed to the scene at Clairton Coke Works and were working to free those caught in the debris. Abigail Gardner, communications director for Allegheny County, stated that there have been no confirmed fatalities so far.
The Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 am (local time) and that it has transported five people. The agency did not provide any more details on those people transported and would only say it was an “active scene”. The Clairton Coke Works, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America.
Largest coking facility in North America
According to US Steel, the plant runs 10 coke oven batteries and produces over 4 million tons of coke each year, a vital fuel for steelmaking. In a coking plant, coal is transformed into coke, which is then used in blast furnaces to produce steel. The process involves heating coal without oxygen to temperatures reaching about 1,125 degrees Fahrenheit, causing it to soften, liquefy, and then solidify again. This heating removes impurities, leaving behind a porous, carbon-rich material known as coke.
Past environmental violations and lawsuits
In recent years, the Clairton plant has faced persistent scrutiny over pollution issues. In 2019, the company agreed to an $8.5 million settlement to resolve a 2017 lawsuit. As part of the agreement, $6.5 million was allocated to curb soot emissions and foul odours from the Clairton coke-making facility, located along the Monongahela River about 32 kilometres south of Pittsburgh. The plant has also been the subject of additional lawsuits related to environmental concerns, including allegations of violating clean air regulations after a December 2018 fire damaged its sulfur pollution control systems.
(With inputs from AP)
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