An Explosion Was Reported at Reny Picot’s Chihuahua Dryer Tower
An industrial incident was reported at the Mexican facilities of Reny Picot, a subsidiary of Industrias Lácteas Asturianas, in the municipality of Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua. The explosion occurred in the plant’s drying and dehydration area, prompting the activation of internal emergency procedures and the deployment of firefighters, civil-protection officials, paramedics and public-security personnel.
Emergency crews worked to contain small fires and secure the perimeter of the facility. Industrial-safety teams carried out a precautionary evacuation of employees working on production shifts. Medical responders attended workers at the site to check for possible smoke inhalation, distress or injuries associated with the blast wave.
Firefighters conducted cooling and control operations around the affected process area. The work included checks intended to establish whether risks remained in gas-conveyance lines or boilers. Authorities and technical experts began examining the incident and the condition of the drying tower, while the company and local officials assessed possible damage to the plant’s infrastructure.
Spray-drying towers used for milk and whey operate with hot air and fine dairy-powder particles in suspension. Protection authorities and technical investigators were examining possible explanations for the blast, including gas accumulation in burners, a failure in the injection system, or a deflagration in filtration ducts and recovery cyclones. The source report did not identify a confirmed cause.
The Cuauhtémoc complex receives, separates cream from and dries surplus milk and whey from dairy farms and Mennonite colonies in the region. A temporary stoppage or damage to one of its drying lines could require daily volumes of liquid raw material to be redirected to other processing plants, according to the report.
After the emergency was brought under control, the plant’s management and ministerial and labour authorities focused on a structural assessment of the damaged tower and a broader review of safety systems in the production building. The report did not provide a confirmed figure for injuries, production losses or the duration of any interruption.
