SMB admits ammonia leak

CEBU, Philippines — San Miguel Brewery admitted an ammonia leak from its plant in Mandaue City and the company was sorry for the inconvenience it has caused to the community in Barangay Tipolo last Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Romelinda Garces, communications manager of San Miguel Brewery, said the company regrets any inconvenience caused by the leak to its immediate community and seeks to assure the residents that all measures are being undertaken to prevent any recurrence of this sort.

Garces said the incident occurred at 10:20 p.m. on April 23, 2023 at San Miguel Brewery’s Mandaue Plant in Barangay Tipolo.

She said the leak was noted coming from the orifice valve of the ammonia pump where the bolts holding the valve gave way due to metal fatigue.

“This equipment is subjected to regular monitoring, however, the bolt securing the valve gave way before its expected time of replacement,” Garces said.

Garces said that the leak was controlled by the emergency response team of the company within one hour.

She added that City Mayor Jonas Cortes, the Bureau of Fire Protection of Mandaue City and Barangay Tipolo provided assistance to the Brewery to address community concerns.

Some residents near the area has to leave their respective homes and returned an hour later after the ammonia leak was resolved.  FPL (CEBU NEWS)