One person was killed in an explosion and fire at an Iranian oil refinery today that happened during a visit by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Mr Ahmadinejad was not hurt by at the incident in the new refinery in Abadan, southwestern Iran, which Mehr said was due to a gas leak. At least 22 people were injured, it reported.
Thick smoke was seen rising from the refinery, which lies close to the Iraqi border, but firefighters had the blaze under control, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
"This incident was not an act of intentional sabotage," said Hamid-Reza Katouzian, head of Iran's parliamentary energy committee.
"Experts had forewarned that Abadan refinery was not ready to be inaugurated," he told reporters. "The incident in Abadan refinery was due to technical problems."
Any damage to the plant would have no impact on oil exports from the world's fifth-biggest exporter as it is involved in producing gasoline, mostly for domestic consumption.
Mr Ahmadinejad's presence at the inauguration shows the importance Tehran places on increasing its oil refining capacity at a time when international sanctions have squeezed its ability to import the automotive fuel.
Reuters