MOSCOW (MRC) -- A blaze ripped through the small-scale Ukhta oil refinery, controlled by Russian oil major Lukoil, the emergency ministry said, as per Reuters.
It said the fire hit a diesel processing unit and that one man had been injured. Lukoil declined any immediate comment.
Video footage posted on social media purported to show a huge ball of fire over the refinery. The ministry said the fire has spread through 1,000 square meters.
Interfax news agency, citing an unnamed source, said staff had been evacuated from the plant.
As MRC informed earlier, Saratovorgsintez, subsidiary of Lukoil, closed the production of acrylonitrile (ACN) in September 2019 for scheduled repairs. This production with a capacity of 190,000 tonnes of ACN per year was closed for repair within one month.
Acrylonitrile is one of the main raw materials for the production of ABS.
As per ICIS-MRC Price Report, November ABS imports were 3,300 tonnes versus 3,500 tonnes a month earlier and 4,100 tonnes in November 2018. Overall ABS imports slightly decreased year on year in the first eleven months of 2019 to 31,300 tonnes.
Lukoil is one of the leading vertically integrated oil company in Russia. The main activities of the company include operations for exploration and production of oil and gas, production and sale of petroleum products. Lukoil is the second largest private oil Company worldwide by proven hydrocarbon reserves. In Lukoil structure includes one of the largest Russian and Ukrainian petrochemical industries Stavrolen and Karpatneftekhim.
MRC