YEREVAN (ArmenPress)–Anush Harutyunyan, the company’s press secretary, has stated that the factory is currently undergoing restorations and will not begin production until the construction has finished. At the moment, the factory is not manufacturing and has been since the fire caused by three deadly explosions at the plant on May 14th.
The explosion rocked Nairit late in the afternoon, sending plumes of black smoke billowing skywards. Company officials said it occurred at one of the plant’s facilities used for storing chloroprene, a chemical substance that produces synthetic rubber, the company’s main product.
Approximately 500 of the factory’s 3,000 employees have been forced out of a job for the time being, at least until production resumes. The rest have been involved in the restorations, which have cost Nairit $150,000.
According to Harutyunyan, the factory has been selling certain products during the period of suspended activity, all of which had been kept in storage until now.
As to the cause of the explosion in May, Harutyunyan stated that the authorities are still immersed in an ongoing investigation, but as of yet nothing has been revealed.