Tijuana, Mexico, Not Set for Gas Plant, Expert Says ( )
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Jan 30, 2004 (The San Diego Union-Tribune - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via COMTEX) -- Tijuana is incapable of responding to a serious accident at the liquefied natural gas receiving terminals that energy companies are planning to build in and near the city, according to Tijuana's director of civil protection.
The official, Antonio Rosquillas, said the city doesn't have the resources to deal with an accident similar to the Jan. 19 explosion at an LNG plant in Algeria that killed 30 people, injured scores more and ignited a fire that burned for hours. It was the worst LNG accident in 30 years.
"We are not prepared. And it will take a long time and too much money to be prepared," Rosquillas said after speaking this week at an LNG forum organized by the civic group Tijuana Trabaja.
At least three LNG projects are planned for Baja California, two of which are near Tijuana. Unlike the facility in Algeria, which turned natural gas into liquid form, the Baja California projects will turn liquid fuel into gas.
ChevronTexaco wants to build its LNG regasification platform six miles off the coast of Playas east of the Coronado Islands. Because of the off-shore location, an accident would pose no threat to Tijuana residents, said Carlos Atallah, the firm's Mexico LNG director.
Marathon Oil's proposed energy complex would be less than a mile south of an upscale Tijuana suburb, Playas de Tijuana.
Marathon officials say their company's LNG safety record is spotless, and they have located the plant in a gorge so the topography will protect neighbors from any mishap.
"The company is committed to industrial security," said Michael Trevino, Marathon's director of public affairs. "The tranquility of our neighbors is key to the project."
Alberto de la Fuente, chief of staff of the president of Mexico's Energy Regulatory Commission, said Mexico requires that emergency response resources be in place before an LNG facility opens.
It is the responsibility of the plant's operator to make sure all the emergency instruments are in place, de la Fuente said.
"It doesn't mean they have to build a fire station," he said. "But it means that if there aren't enough resources they will have to come to an agreement with the municipality to donate equipment. Or it might mean they will have to supply the equipment and personnel at the facility."
Rosquillas said additional safety precautions are needed in Tijuana, especially because the city sits in a seismic region that is vulnerable to a 6.5 to 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
"We need to have a scenario for an accident," he told the gathering. "We need to assess what to do if there is partial or complete damage to the facilities or to what extent an accident could hurt someone driving by."
A facility being developed jointly by Shell Oil Co. and Sempra Energy would sit on the Costa Azul plateau 12 miles north of Ensenada. That city's civil protection director did not attend the forum.
Rosquillas, who has been Tijuana's civil protection director for eight years and worked at the agency 19 years, said the event was the first time he had been included in any discussion about the LNG projects, although Marathon and ChevronTexaco officials have met numerous times with government officials, civic organizations and members of the public.
He said that once the companies have the permits they need to build the LNG terminals, he will form a committee to address the public safety risks.
Participants might include government officials, university scientists and members of the community, possibly from both sides of the border.
By Diane Lindquist
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