Dangerous chemical leak at Kubuli factory; officials to address issue on Friday

The Kubuli Factory at Snug Corner was badly damaged by Hurricane Maria

An operation is to take place on Friday to neutralize and dispose of a dangerous chemical from the Kubuli factory, located at Snug Corner in Fond Baron, Loubiere.

There is presently a leak of the dangerous refrigerant, ammonia at the plant, although the chemical itself has been contained.

People living close to the factory are expected to vacate the area, motorists traveling in the area are asked to follow instructions by the police and people are asked not to use the river which flows down into Loubiere.

The operation is expected to begin at 9:00 am and will include a number of stakeholders including a hazmat crew from overseas.

According to plant manager, Albert Porter, the factory was affected by Hurricane Maria and the dangerous chemical refrigerant, ammonia is still at the plant.

“At the moment there is a small leak which has been monitored since after the storm and we want to make sure that ammonia is being dealt with quickly,” he said at a press conference on Thursday evening.

The factory building was affected by both wind and water from the hurricane

Senior Environmental Health Officer Sylvester St. Ville said the operation is to neutralize and dispose of the ammonia.

“If we do not remove the ammonia from the plant there is the possibility that the ammonia could get airborne, the leak could increase, get airborne and we will have a catastrophe,” he said. “We are caught between a rock and a hard place and do something or do nothing and I think the time has come when we need to do something with the ammonia at the plant and safeguard and protect the health of the people and the residence of Loubiere and those traversing the road to Grand Bay, Pichelin, Bagatelle and the other communities.”

He said ammonia is a very corrosive substance which can affect the lungs if inhaled in very high concentrations

“What this means it forms lumps and water pockets in the lungs … if you inhale that product it can be dangerous,” he explained.

St. Ville said the river which travels through Loubiere will be affected during the operation.

“The disposal method will include the disposal of the ammonia solution, after it had been stabilized, into the river at intervals,” he stated. “The environmental health division along with the experts will be monitoring the release of the ammonia solution, which is not the pure ammonia… it will be diluted and neutralized in water. And that water, which is the solution that is going to be disposed of, will be discharged into the river incrementally. It will not be disposed all at one time, but it will be disposed of incrementally, little bits at a time.”

He said there are concerns about aquatic life and standards have been given for the disposal including the PH and the temperature of the solution that is being released into the river.

“The department is really concerned and we really do apologize for what is going to take place and the inconvenience which it is going to cause the people of Loubiere,” he said. “We are concerned about the use of the river so we request that individuals do not use the river tomorrow and we will be passing tomorrow with a PA system to address those who are not listening to this press conference and for those who have questions, they are free to approach us…”

St. Ville said he hopes the operation takes place in a safe way and there are no adverse health conditions.

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32 Comments

  1. Dominican
    November 17, 2017

    I know that ammonia can be safely disposed off fairly easily when proper procedures are observed. I’m moreconcerned about the future of our brewery and the Loubiere water bottling plant. I hope it does not go the same way as DCP after the previous storm, which was seen as a good excuse to close the operations the oration down. That would be a great pity and a another blow to our manufacturing industry and jobs? What would there be left?

  2. Marlene
    November 17, 2017

    To all Critics putting politics in everthing:
    (1) We must seek every opportunity to proclaim the Gospel both through our words and through our lives.
    (2) God uses the Gospel to save people, no matter how different they are.
    (3) Go providentially works to draw every different people to himself through the same Gospel.
    We must note that Satan seeks to thwart the Gospel by his subtle strategies, using outright aggression against God’s people. The question is when you all will respond to the call, to stop, this crititism of your Country and its leaders. In the hardness of your heart will you continue to cling to your hatred, greed, jealousy, anxiety to crash the system through your constant hatred and jealousy and greed for power?
    As Psalm 20:6 says: “Now this, I know the Lord gives victory to his anointed” Please read the story in the Bible about “Daniel in Lion’s Den” you all will get my drift. I quote some
    “In fact, Daniel was so honest and hardworking that the other…

    • Anonymous
      November 17, 2017

      B.S. We need less of this religious waffle right now. Hard work does more than that!

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      November 18, 2017

      (1)” We must seek every opportunity to proclaim the Gospel both through our words and through our lives.”

      Believing in God; know God’s words and quoting scriptures praying from now until Jesus return will not help the situation in Dominica. Not one penny will fall from the sky, when we talk nonsense, we must remember when we pray and ask God to help us to do or get something, unless we act, (make an effort) to get what we ask for not even God will simply drop it in our lap!

      The are many examples in the Bible where  people did not get heal, or get other blessings until they acted on what Jesus told them to do. Take for instance the woman with the issue of blood, She believed in God, her faith was great, however, she did not get heal until she decided to make an effort and go and touch the hem of Jesus garment (cloth) okay! The moment she touched his cloth, he ask “who touched me” and told her “your faith has made you whole.” You have to do something to gain something!

  3. November 17, 2017

    E O Leblanc. A

    Patrick John. A

    Mary E Charles. A

    Edison James. A

    Rosie. Douglas. A

    Pierre Charles. A

    Roosevelt Skerrit. D –
    Dominica prime ministers grade score

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      November 17, 2017

      I fight and curse Roosevelt Skerrit everyday eh: in another forum where I call him all sorts of nasty evil names. And although I believe he is no good for the country at the moment; I would rate him better than D- : I would rate him a C- because he accomplished a little more than both Rosie Douglas, and Pier Charles combined!

      Just because he is the devil, does not mean he deserves no credit! Sorry I cannot call him a nasty name on DNO, except to say he is known to me as: That Mountain Chicken Carpaud (crapo) Mentality Sir Knight Me Almost Nearly Cousin Dr. Punjab Indian doctor of nothing that d*mn T…f.

      Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!

  4. Real Truth
    November 17, 2017

    If this is the best solution , fire every government official in Dominica immediately!

  5. I Must admit
    November 17, 2017

    Trust me Dominica has been the most unsafe place to to be in since Skerrit became pm and no law, no Constitution we’re buried. It’s a very sad country to be in. A country where government Minister becomes pathologist, funeral home, priest and even to the point where he determines where to bury the dead and where remains will be buried 4-5 months, after first burial and not even a question asked by the authorities, let alone an independent investigation, just confirms why Da is now the most unsafe place to live. Let’s not forget an individual that was wanted by international authorities was able to find favor with our local authorities and was able to legally hide in Dominica for six months

    • Deliver us from the evil one
      November 17, 2017

      @I must admit, I really like your name. It reminds me of a minister / pathologist/ priest who spoke about a funeral he performed and every sentence he made started with ” I MUST admit”. I wonder if
      he wants to admit to something. But 2 things you forgot:

      1. Don’t forget the man that was arrested on a plane in Barbados, with a loaded gun, enroute to Dominica and the then minister of National Security had the nerves to go on national radio that the man was coming for his child. But the worse part is, late that same man was made president of Dominica and still is!
      2. If that’s not pure madness think of this one: Just last month the president, the Pm and police commissioner were all out and someone had to deputize for them. But guess who was made to deputize for president Charles Savarin? Folks, a former police commissioner who was asked to terminate office after an independent inquiry found him unsafe for national security. So many things that make Da very unsafe man.

  6. joey x
    November 17, 2017

    Why dump it in the river? spray it on the land . It’s excellent fertilizer. The chemistry of ammonia is nh3 which means it is essentially nitrogen which is one of the 3 essential nutrients for plants. Dumping it in the river could cause algal blooms downstream.

  7. Shaka Zulu
    November 17, 2017

    1. Why was the small leak mot dealt with sooner. This means for two momths the factory and ministry of health if they knew about it has put punlic at risk
    2.if the factory stored such large quantity everyone working at that place should know where MSDS is, and there should be training for emergency response in case there is a spill, tailored on containment and isolation of the chemical. Why was it allowed to slowly leak for two months is besides me. Tells me there were no emergency plan in place.
    3.this is highly toxic to marine and aquatic animals and i think will have a major fish kill where released. This to me is pollution of the environment. Our best emergency procedure is ro destroy our environment
    4.what does guy mean by neutralize. Only thing he can add is water anything else may cause reaction releasing more dangerous fumes
    5.would it not be better to contain and recapture as much of ammonia instead of what souds to me like polluting tbe water. Reduce volume to be…

  8. really
    November 17, 2017

    hmmm .. why in the river ? whose idea is this ?
    please read from environmental protection agency website on ammonia in water :

    When ammonia is present in water at high enough levels, it is difficult for aquatic organisms to sufficiently excrete the toxicant, leading to toxic buildup in internal tissues and blood, and potentially death. Environmental factors, such as pH and temperature, can affect ammonia toxicity to aquatic animals.

    I mean big people like environmental health dont know shouldn’t use river water .

  9. Roger Burnett
    November 17, 2017

    I hope that Kubuli’s overseas parent companies have not been dragging their feet in coming to terms with this problem. I know that in the past they have been penny-pinching in providing funding for their plant in Dominica.

  10. Soso
    November 17, 2017

    I am very disappointed in the manner which is used for disposal of such harzadous waste. I wonder if at all that the bewery had a disaster plan which took into consideration the disposal of dangerous chemicals which could have effects on the aquatic life and more so for residence in the immediate vicinity of the factory. It is good that we are informed about this dangerous chemical , but it is not so good that the bewery would not have a disposal plan in a case where dangerous chemicals are compromised. My hope is that the environmental experts would not opt for such disposal in the river and maybe thinking safe disposal elsewhere out of Dominica where little or no threat is posted to residence and aquatic life.

  11. Anonymous
    November 17, 2017

    The authorities didn’t do a damn thing to contain this, nearly two months now but our Big Boy is galavanting in Europe, America, Asia, all over the place trying to weedle money out of gullible people’s pockets while his own people “go to hell”.
    Yes, I am very pissed off! He says our citizenship scheme is the best but the other agency list it last, who are we to believeIt ?

    • Ave Maria
      November 17, 2017

      Until Dominicans begin to open their eyes and bring this nonsense to an end , we will go nowhere as a people. Somehow they keep talking about coming together but how can evil and good unite? We need this evil regime out asap

      • Ave Maria
        November 17, 2017

        Getting this evil, careless, greedy and corrupt government must be seen as the first step to addressing our crisis. That has to be the first step to reversing the evil spell we seem to be under

  12. Eddie
    November 17, 2017

    Now all you saying that.. it has been 2 months since the storm.. this thing has been leaking all the time. God knows the amount of people who may see the effects in the years to come! !! That country is just a mess…

  13. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    November 17, 2017

    Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most commonly produced industrial chemicals. It is used in industry and commerce, and also exists naturally in humans and in the environment. Ammonia is essential for many biological processes and serves as a precursor for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. In the environment, ammonia is part of the nitrogen cycle and is produced in soil from bacterial processes. Ammonia is also produced naturally from decomposition of organic matter, including plants, animals and animal wastes.

    Some chemical/physical properties of ammonia are:

    At room temperature, ammonia is a colorless, highly irritating gas with a pungent, suffocating odor.
    In pure form, it is known as anhydrous ammonia and is hygroscopic (readily absorbs moisture).
    Ammonia has alkaline properties and is corrosive.
    Ammonia gas dissolves easily in water to form ammonium hydroxide, a caustic solution and weak base.
    Ammonia gas is easily compressed and forms a clear liquid under pressure.

  14. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    November 17, 2017

    What a joke, what danderous chemical are they talking about?

    NH3 (aq) + H2O (l) NH3 · H2O (aq) NH4 + (aq) + OH – (aq)
    (Ammonia in water)
    (ammonia+water)
    (ammonium + hydroxide ions)
    The dynamic equilibrium between NH3 and NH4 + is affected by water temperature and pH (acidity). At a pH of six the ratio of ammonia to ammonium is 1 to 3000 but decreases to 1 to 30 when the pH rises to eight (becomes less acidic). Warm water will contain more toxic ammonia then cooler water.

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      November 17, 2017

      To the 6, and 7 fools who gave me thumbs thumbs down, I challenge any one of you to comment on any of my two comments, and with a  chemistry formula refute what I wrote!

      If any of you can then you would have to be god, at least a god of chemistry. I mean some of us Dominicans are ignorant and stupid; we give thumbs down to comments, even when they are Chemistry  theoretical formula used to prove one knows what they have conveyed!  Sometimes I feel ashamed to recognized myself as a Dominican born!

      If  you  are the same six and seven; same idiots, always giving me thumbs down, you will do that for the rest of your life’s, but try as you will, a smart phone or a PC will never give you the knowledge I have; one have to get that out of some University, or a good four year college! My former professors (teachers) are not computers and smart phone nor Google, they are humans! 

  15. anonymous2
    November 17, 2017

    Why don’t you make some fertilizer with the ammonia and mix it with soil? Putting in the river and causing a nitrogenous effect is not smart. It alters the ecosystem like pollution and defecation.

  16. UDOHREADYET
    November 16, 2017

    there needs to be zoning laws for any new factories and animal farms… you cannot put a factory upstream of where people live and use river water. It understandable that its a beer factory but the water used by the factory should not flow back directly into the main source especially if the factory has chemicals. its not a rum factory.

    • Dominican
      November 17, 2017

      They need the river to operate properly. Where else do you intend them to put it? All rivers in Dominica have people living down stream. A factory like the Kubuli factory needs the river or at the very least a lake. But possibly they need flowing water.

  17. My name
    November 16, 2017

    You all waited well long. Hope all will be ok and persons kept safe

  18. Patience
    November 16, 2017

    Why in the river? What about the fishes and the long term effect on the river and the fishes? Are the environmental people accepting this? Why can’t this amonia be contained and transported out of the island? Hey this is the NATURE ISLAND Dominica beverage company KUBULI can do better! DO NOT DISPOSE this hazardous waste in our river and our shores! This is BS

    • UDOHREADYET
      November 16, 2017

      I agree with you 100%

    • John Brown
      November 17, 2017

      The chemical will be neutralized by the water quickly in small doses

    • Dumbass
      November 17, 2017

      “He said there are concerns about aquatic life and standards have been given for the disposal including the PH and the temperature of the solution that is being released into the river.”

      When you don’t read and understand properly.. The way and amount they will be releasing into the river will not destroy the aquatic life.

      • Anonymous
        November 17, 2017

        I guess that’s why they waited dumping it in the river till after Skerrit’s speech in Bonn, not so smart*ss?

  19. Kim
    November 16, 2017

    Dominica feels like a very unsafe place these days. Sigh

    • I Must admit
      November 17, 2017

      Trust me Dominica has been the most unsafe place to to be in since Skerrit became pm and no law, no Constitution we’re buried. It’s a very sad country to be in. A country where government Minister becomes pathologist, funeral home, priest and even to the point where he determines where to bury the dead and where remains will be buried 4-5 months, after first burial and not even a question asked by the authorities, let alone an independent investigation, just confirms why Da is now the most unsafe place to live. Let’s not forget an individual that was wanted by international authorities was able to find favor with our local authorities and was able to legally hide in Dominica for six months.

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