A powerful explosion and fire tore through the Amur Gas Chemical Complex in Russia’s Far East on Tuesday, killing several workers and injuring more than 130 just months before the plant’s planned 2027 launch.
What happened
The blaze broke out in an auxiliary section of a pyrolysis unit at the complex near the town of Svobodny in the Amur region, close to the border with China. Russian authorities said the fire was triggered by an explosion involving a methanol container. The fire spread across roughly 2,000 square meters before firefighters brought it under control. Officials said the plant’s main production equipment was not damaged and that air-quality monitors in Svobodny detected no toxic chemical spikes.
Casualties
Russian officials initially reported two dead and 133 injured, 19 of them hospitalized with moderate to severe injuries. Independent outlet Novaya Gazeta later put the death toll at five, including one Chinese national employed by a contracting firm. The Moscow Times and Global Times both confirmed at least one Chinese worker among the dead. The toll may still rise as authorities continue assessing the damage.
A $10 billion joint venture
The Amur Gas Chemical Complex is a roughly $10 billion joint venture between Russia’s Sibur and China’s Sinopec, built over the past seven years to become one of the largest polymer production facilities in the world. It was undergoing final testing ahead of a planned launch in early 2027.
Safety warnings before the blast
Novaya Gazeta reported that residents near the site had complained about a gas smell for almost two weeks before the fire, and that the plant had previously been fined for safety violations. Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case over alleged breaches of industrial safety rules at the facility.
What’s next
A commission has been formed to determine the cause of the fire. This is a developing story and will be updated as new information emerges.
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