A fire that shut down Durban’s Engen refinery earlier this month was caused by a mechanical problem, company spokesperson Herb Payne said on Friday.
”What led to the mechanical problem is still being investigated.”
The blaze broke out last Thursday in the refinery’s crude unit, a portion of the plant that feeds crude oil into the refinery’s processing units.
At least 20 000 litres of oil went up in smoke.
Payne said more details regarding supplies would be provided next week.
At the time of the incident, Engen’s general manager, Willem Oosthuizen, said the refinery would be shut down for at least four months.
Engen loses roughly R6-million each day it remains closed. — Sapa