Croatia: Carbon dioxide leak into fermentation at Karlovac Brewery

Because of the wrongly laid pipes, carbon dioxide leaked into the fermentation plant of Karlovac Brewery, Jutarnji list writes, according to Javno, March 4.

The pipes were laid in such a way that carbon dioxide went into the sewerage, instead of the air, Alenka Laptalo, the judge and the spokeswoman of Karlovac County Court said.

The current subject of the investigation of the manner and the time of laying of the installation. We learn from the spokeswoman Alenka Laptalo that in December last year certain reconstructions were carried out in some parts of the plant, including the incriminating one.

“It is still not known how long carbon dioxide has been leaking from Karlovac Brewery into the sewerage; there is a possibility that it has been happening for the last three months”, Marinko Maradin from Eko stozer said.

The investigating Judge Jasminka Jerinic-Musnjak and Eko stozer of Karlovac County yesterday inspected possible critical points in Karlovac brewery circle and temporally fixed the pipes.

The drainpipe to take the gas into the air at 25 metres height was installed.

“This repair work is the best temporary solution to prevent any further danger from happening”, Dr Franjo Plavsic, Head of Croatian toxicology institute said.

The County Eco Centre, Eko stozer issued an ultimatum order in which they demand that flaws from the plant be removed and technological option be found which would not endanger nature.

“If the brewery does not find a permanent solution till Tuesday, Eko stozer will demand from relevant inspection bodies to stop the production processes which lead to formation of CO2”, Marinko Maradin, member of Eko Stozer stressed.

07 March, 2007