ISLA DE PINOS, February 28 (Michel González, Cuba Press) - The ammonia chiller in a fish processing plant here has become a time bomb that could result in lost production and loss of life after a decade without maintenance.
The chiller has not been tested for leaks ever since it was put in service; components are only replaced when they fail and not according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.
In addition, security valves that have not been checked for years, contaminated ammonia, an oil pump that does not work, and an improvised and inefficient cooling tower are some of the elements that could result in a catastrophic ammonia leak. If the compressor stops working for any reason, the
operators must leave the machinery spaces. The smell of ammonia can be perceived from 150 feet away.
Between February 13 and 15 the unit stopped working. So far, the technicians have not been able to explain why, or where the ammonia went, or how it reappeared 24 hours later.
Two years ago, a study determined that by mid-1998 the shortcomings had to be remedied or the plant shut down, because the faults detected could result in "loss of production or human lives."
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