Fire Erupts at Iraq’s Baiji Refinery, the Country’s Largest

Iraq’s largest oil refinery, located in Baiji, was struck by a fire on Sunday, just months after it resumed operations following years of inactivity and restoration.

The fire erupted in one of the units at the facility, locally known as the “Grease Refinery,” according to a source from the Civil Defense Directorate in Saladin province. Emergency crews were dispatched quickly and worked to contain the blaze, successfully preventing it from reaching nearby production units.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. No injuries or casualties were reported.

Baiji refinery, situated in northern Iraq, once boasted a refining capacity of 310,000 barrels per day. The facility was seized by ISIS in May 2014 and heavily damaged during the subsequent conflict. After being recaptured by Iraqi forces in 2015, the site suffered further setbacks, including widespread looting by various armed groups.

In February 2024, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani officially reopened the North Refinery at Baiji, marking a significant step in Iraq’s energy recovery. The reopening followed a major rehabilitation effort and the recovery of stolen equipment that had been missing since the conflict.

Photo credit: MEHR News Agency. All rights reserved.