Fire halts major Russian polymers operation

A fire at Lukoil’s Stavrolen petrochemical plant in the southern Russian city of Budyonnovsk halted production. The integrated petrochemical complex is a major producer of polypropylene and low-pressure polyethylene.

A fire broke out after a loss of pressure in the ethylene section.

Reported by the Russian News, “The fire began at 12:35 Moscow time after valve depressurization. Local authorities claim that ignition was preceded by explosion; wounding several people, according to the local Emergency Ministry.”

The cause of the fire is still unknown, Lukoil said in a statement. In 2011, the same facility experienced a fire that injured five employees and had resulted in damage valued at 800 million rubles.

Stavrolen’s Budyonnovsk complex is Russia’s second largest polyethylene complex and the third largest polypropylene manufacturing site.