A fire broke out at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex (AGCC), a joint project of Russian petrochemical company Sibur and China's Sinopec, the plant's press service reported.
The company said the blaze occurred at an auxiliary technological section of the pyrolysis unit, with main equipment unaffected. The fire has been contained, and controlled burning of residual process gases is underway. The cause of the incident has not been disclosed.
According to official data, five people, including employees of contractor organizations, were hospitalized with injuries of varying severity. Other victims with minor injuries received assistance on site; their number was not disclosed.
The Telegram channel 112, which has ties to law enforcement, claimed that barrels of methanol exploded at the plant, injuring 87 people and killing one. REN TV also reported one death. There is no independent confirmation of these figures.
The AGCC press service said there is no threat to residents of surrounding areas. Equipment in commissioning mode has been shut down.
The Amur Gas Chemical Complex is one of the world's largest polyethylene and polypropylene plants under construction, with a capacity of 2.7 million tons per year. The project was initially scheduled to launch in 2024, but due to sanctions and the inability to purchase equipment, it was postponed to 2027.