Gas leak at Kuwait's oil refinery sends three workers to hospital

Three workers at the Mina al-Ahmedi oil refinery were hospitalized Sunday because of a gas leak at one of the units, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

Rajeh al-Omair, public relations manager at the Kuwait National Petroleum Co., which owns and runs the refinery, said the men were in stable condition. Three other workers who also suffered gas inhalation were treated on site and returned to work, he said.

Al-Omair said the accident occurred during regular maintenance.

Mina al-Ahmedi is the largest of Kuwait's three refineries. Its current capacity is around 300,000 barrels a day.

The refinery was severen{ damaged a year ago in an explosion caused by a gas leak. The accident left six workers dead. The installation was shut down after the blast, and its capacity has since been gradually returning to normal. Last repairs are expected to be finished by August 2002, when the capacity will be restored to around 450,000 barrels a day.

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