Mitigation Strategies for Fire and Explosion in Cameroon's Petroleum Refineries

Abstract

Fire and explosion hazards remain among the gravest safety concerns for petroleum refineries. This study investigates strategies for reducing fire and explosion risks in Cameroonian petroleum refineries, using the Société Nationale de Raffinage (SONARA) as a case study. The study aims to point out main sources of hazards, analyze possible accident scenarios, and evaluate the effectiveness of current safety and risk management procedures. Within the refinery, Hazard Identification (HAZID), Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), and consequence modeling are used to evaluate potential fire and explosion scenarios. The subsequent research provides actionable mitigation strategies, drawing upon the study's findings, which include an enhanced safety culture, refined hazard detection systems, robust emergency response plans, and risk-based safety management methodologies.