Explosion and fire reported at one of Russia’s biggest petrochemical plants: Footage
Illustrative photo: aftermath of the fire in Nizhnekamsk being eliminated (t.me/mchs_official)
What is known about the explosion
The incident occurred in the city of Nizhnekamsk. Eyewitnesses reported a powerful explosion and a fire in the area of the plant. Thick smoke was visible from a distance. There have been no official comments yet from local authorities or the plant’s administration.
Updated at 04:42 PM Kyiv time. According to official data, as a result of the explosion, 58 Russians were injured, and three were killed. A preliminary cause is reported to be equipment failure.
What is Nizhnekamskneftekhim?
Photo: location of the city of Nizhnekamsk in Russia (Google Maps screenshot)
- Synthetic rubbers (including isoprene rubber for the tire industry);
- Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene;
- Ethylene, propylene, and benzene.
The enterprise is city-forming — without it, the city of Nizhnekamsk would not exist in its current form.
Since 2021, the plant has been under the control of the SIBUR holding. Due to the war against Ukraine, the enterprise has been placed under international sanctions.
Like any large petrochemical facility, the plant is potentially dangerous — fires and accidents have occurred there before, including due to the wear and tear of some production lines built back in the Soviet era.
Attacks on Russian industrial facilities continue
At the same time, regular strikes on Russia’s petrochemical and oil infrastructure are ongoing.
On March 30, it was reported that drones struck the KuibyshevAzot chemical plant in Tolyatti — marking the second attack on the facility within a month.
The plant specializes in the production of ammonia, fertilizers, and raw materials for nylon. Thick columns of dark smoke were seen rising over the city.
Meanwhile, fires continue at oil terminals in the Leningrad region — in Primorsk and Ust-Luga. The first strikes on these facilities were carried out by the Defense Forces on March 23, after which attacks were repeated.
According to Planet Labs satellite images dated March 30, at least 8 out of 18 storage tanks at the Transneft terminal in Primorsk were damaged.
The total value of oil in the affected storage facilities could have reached around $160 million.
