On 25 August, a fire broke out at the pyrolysis unit \u2013 a key part of the production process \u2013 at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex in the Amur Region of the Russian Federation. The equipment was shut down immediately and staff were evacuated. The operator reported that it was containing the consequences of the incident; at the time of the statement, there were no reports of casualties or any threat to residents in the surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n Thick black smoke was visible this morning above an industrial site near Svobodne. Footage released also shows the flare system in operation. During commissioning, its operation is a standard procedural step and does not in itself explain the cause of the fire.<\/p>\n The complex\u2019s press office reported that the equipment that had been shut down was in the commissioning phase. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are being investigated. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations\u2019 morning bulletin for the Amur Region mentioned two man-made fires over the past 24 hours, but it did not contain any details regarding the incident at the AGHK.<\/p>\n The plant receives ethane and liquefied hydrocarbon gases from the neighbouring Amur Gas Processing Plant. At high temperatures, ethylene and propylene are produced from this feedstock, which are then used in the manufacture of polymers.<\/p>\n The plant\u2019s design capacity is approximately 2.7 million tonnes of ethylene and propylene per year. Once the complex reaches its design capacity, it is expected to produce around 2.3 million tonnes of polyethylene and 400,000 tonnes of polypropylene per year.<\/p>\n At the end of 2025, AGHK\u2019s overall readiness was estimated at approximately 92%. Major construction and installation work on the pyrolysis unit had been completed, and in January, SIBUR reported that the facilities within its start-up complex were mechanically ready.<\/p>\n In the spring, the furnace lining was dried in the furnaces at temperatures of up to 750\u00b0C, the compressors were tested and the systems were prepared to receive raw materials. In June, the flare system came into operation, and the complex began receiving its main hydrocarbon feedstock via inter-plant pipelines from the Amur Gas Processing Plant.<\/p>\n The first batches of polyethylene were scheduled to be received in the third quarter of 2026. A prolonged shutdown or major overhaul of the pyrolysis unit could affect this timetable; however, the operator has not disclosed any estimates regarding the timeframe for resumption of operations.<\/p>\n The Amur Petrochemical Complex is being built by the Russian company SIBUR and the Chinese company Sinopec. The joint venture partners hold shares of 60% and 40% respectively, and key strategic, operational and financial decisions require unanimous approval.<\/p>\n\n
The operator is containing the consequences of the incident<\/h2>\n
Pyrolysis converts raw materials into components for polymers<\/h2>\n
The fire broke out during the final stage of preparations for the complex\u2019s launch<\/h2>\n
The complex is a joint project between SIBUR and Sinopec<\/h2>\n