RCMP promising full investigation into oil refinery explosion

An RCMP spokesman says a full investigation will be conducted into a small explosion at the oil refinery in Come by Chance last week that company officials say was the result of malicious activity.

The Mounties initially said there was nothing suspicious about the Oct. 5 incident, but that message has since changed.

Cpl. Trevor O'Keefe said the matter is being taken very seriously.

"It's going to be investigated fully to ensure everyone is safe ... the general public, employees and so forth. We are certainly not downplaying it. It's going to be fully investigated from start to finish," O'Keefe told CBC News Thursday.

Contract workers to blame

Officers were called to the refinery following a loud bang, and police initially said there was nothing suspicious about the incident and it was an internal matter.

But sources reached out to CBC News this week, expressing concern about the incident and the potential for a larger disaster.

When pressed for answers Wednesday, North Atlantic Refining issued a news release to all media, confirming there was an explosion and blamed non-North Atlantic employees for "malicious activity."

• Refinery blames 'malicious activity' for explosion at Come by Chance
• Nothing suspicious or dangerous about 'loud bang' at Come by Chance refinery, RCMP say

With the investigation ongoing, neither the RCMP, North Atlantic Refining nor the contracting company involved, Pennecon, will release details about what caused the explosion.

But sources tell CBC News that a small group of contract workers from Local 740 of the Plumbers and Pipefitters union were involved.

The explosion occurred after a container or bag filled with a gas called acetylene was ignited.

There were no injuries or property damage, but a source says the blast occurred not far from a nearby fuel tank, and the consequences could have been disastrous if the tank had also exploded.

Sources say a handful of workers were detained, that several refused drug testing, and at least one worker failed the drug test.

The incident occurred near the conclusion of a 30-day partial maintenance shutdown at the refinery, and sources say several dozen contract workers were dismissed from the site.

Safety No. 1 priority, says North Atlantic

Local 740 spokesman Jim Myers said it was a very serious incident, but he doesn't believe there was any attempt to damage the refinery.

Myers believes it was a group of workers horsing around, but added, "We want a resolution to this."

Myers also stressed that the union supports the company's efforts to find answers, and will support whatever action is taken.

North Atlantic Refining spokesperson Gloria Slade said safety is the company's No. 1 priority, and, "Obviously this is not something we want to see happen here."