With a strength of 200 kA (amplitude), several lightning bolts struck the refinery in Schwechat in the afternoon. The resulting power outage apparently also led to a controlled “flaring off” of excess gas.
The operator assured “Krone” that the fire in the OMV plant was under control. There is no danger, it was emphasized. If the system is shut down for a short time – for example in the event of a power failure or lightning strike – excess gas is “flashed off” to be on the safe side. A common security measure.Nevertheless, a fire alarm was triggered, several fire brigades and the police were on site in the afternoon.It was the strongest lightning measured on Friday.The OMV system on Mannswörther Strasse in Schwechat is one of the largest and most modern inland refineries in Europe. It is responsible for around half of the demand for petroleum products throughout Austria.
source site-12