Tielt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The wallpaper manufacturer Grandeco experienced a small explosion that triggered ammonia release from their Tielt facility last night. All personnel were evacuated from the area after a small explosion incident that occurred at Grandeco.
A small explosion at the Grandeco wallpaper factory caused an ammonia leak, which required the evacuation of all personnel in Tielt, Belgium. The fire department arrived speedily to control dangerous fumes and restrict their impact on the company grounds. Employees escaped unharmed during the incident, while operations normally began the day after the event.
At approximately 6:00 PM, authorities were alerted to an explosion at Grandeco, located on Wakkensesteenweg in Tielt.
“The explosion occurred in a premix boiler, so it was a very small and very local incident,”
Says Patrick Molemans, CEO of Grandeco.
“There was a mixture in there that could release harmful fumes, so we immediately called in an intervention team to limit the consequences.“
The location shut down entirely after the explosion, and authorities stopped traffic movements in Wakkensesteenweg. The fire brigade eliminated the hazardous product at 9:00 pm, which stopped vapour release within company grounds, making the area safe for operation. Operations on the night shift were suspended due to circumstances, yet regular services resumed the following day.
What is the history of Ammonia-related incidents in Belgium?
Ammonia-related incidents in Belgium range from industrial events to criminal acts. During August 2023, someone targeted Brussels metro commuters by throwing a suspected ammonia substance, which made passengers ill. Judicial authorities sentenced the perpetrator to serve four years in prison following the criminal act. Yara’s Porsgrunn ammonia plant experienced an explosion and an oil fire in April 2017.
The market conditions led Yara to announce its decision to deactivate its ammonia production facilities at the Tertre plant located in Belgium. A major explosion of 240 tonnes of ammonium nitrate occurred within Tessenderlo town in 1942. The Antwerp Energy Park of Vopak undertakes assessments regarding ammonia storage operations. These situations demonstrate how ammonia presents various risks to human safety.
