This week saw three accidents at petrochemical plants in Iran with the latest on Wednesday killing one person. On 26 May, a fire erupted at an oxygen transmission pipeline connecting the petrochemical complexes of Mobin Petrochemical Company with Damavand Petrochemical Company, both of which are in the Assaluyeh downstream hub. According to Ali Rhamani, Assaluyeh Deputy Governor, the fires were “contained” and “extinguished.” Both companies house power plants that feed the grid with electricity.
On 24 May, a larger fire started in a waste warehouse outside the main facilities of the Kangan Petro Refining Company (KPRC) in Bushehr, another coastal city. Kangan Governor Seyed Ali Paknejad says the fire started due to “the wind” and expanded. Iran, as with the rest of the Gulf region, is entering the summer season when the hot and dry climate makes fires a not infrequent occurrence. Mr Paknejad says “none of the operational units were damaged during the fire.” Iranian media outlets report that investigations into both incidents are underway. (CONTINUED - 354 WORDS)