BELARUS – Fire at Naftan Oil Refinery in Belarus Quickly Contained, No Injuries Reported
A fire that broke out at one of Belarus’s largest oil refineries on Thursday has been extinguished, and no casualties were reported, according to the country’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The incident occurred at the Naftan refinery in the northern city of Novopolotsk, a major industrial hub near the Russian border. The blaze began in a processing unit that handles diesel fuel, prompting an emergency response from refinery personnel and state fire crews. Officials stated that the fire was contained before it could spread to other sections of the sprawling facility.
In its statement, the ministry confirmed that emergency teams used specialized foam and cooling systems to bring the fire under control. “There were no injuries. The situation is stable,” the ministry said.
Cause Under Investigation
State media earlier reported that the fire originated from a malfunction involving diesel fuel in a technological unit. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact cause but indicated that technical experts are assessing the damaged equipment to determine whether a mechanical failure or human error triggered the blaze.
Strategic Importance of Naftan
Naftan is one of only two major oil refineries in Belarus and plays a central role in the country’s energy and petrochemical sector. Any disruption at Naftan has the potential to affect regional fuel supplies. As of Thursday afternoon, authorities had not confirmed whether production levels would be reduced due to the fire or subsequent safety inspections.
No Environmental Risk Identified
Local officials reported that the fire did not pose a wider threat to nearby residential areas or the surrounding environment. Air-quality monitoring was reportedly initiated as a precaution.
Next Steps
An internal review is expected to examine refinery safety protocols and determine whether maintenance or modernization work is needed. The government has emphasized that the facility remains operational.
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