On Tuesday, August 25, a fire and explosion occurred at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex (AGCC) in the Russian Far East, in which China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) has a stake. The incident resulted in the death of one Chinese worker and injuries to 123 others.
Following the accident, Ukrainian social media and news accounts, such as @Ukrainene, expressed concern about the incident, highlighting that the chemical plant is located 6,000 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border. They claimed, “Distance is no longer a barrier, and nowhere is beyond reach.”
This incident led to 19 workers sustaining moderate to severe injuries and being hospitalized for treatment, while 104 workers suffered minor cuts and bruises and received emergency or on-site care.
“Although prompt medical treatment was provided, one victim – a Chinese citizen employed by a contractor – unfortunately passed away,” AGCC stated on its website.
The company issued a statement expressing condolences for the deceased worker and pledged to provide comprehensive support to the victim’s family, including financial assistance.
The fire at the plant started in the auxiliary and support processing area of the Pyrolysis Unit, with reports of explosions at the scene.
The company’s statement emphasized that the core main equipment remained undamaged. Firefighters and emergency rescue personnel are still working on site to ensure safety by conducting “controlled burning” of residual industrial gases.
Located near the city of Svobodny in the Amur region, the AGCC is a joint project between the Russian petrochemical giant Sibur and Sinopec with a total investment of $10 billion. It aims to become one of the largest polymer (polyethylene and polypropylene) manufacturing facilities globally.
The complex was undergoing final testing before the scheduled start of production in early 2027. Analysts suggest that repair work on the Pyrolysis Unit could delay the commercial production schedule by 6 to 18 months.
Air quality monitoring conducted by local consumer protection agencies in Svobodny showed no exceedance of toxic chemicals, and the government of the Amur region confirmed that the incident posed no threat to nearby residents. A joint commission has been established to investigate the cause of the fire.
(This article was based on reports from Reuters and the Moscow Times)