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At least three people were killed, and 10 others injured in a fire that broke out at a petrochemical facility in southern Iran, state television reported. Authorities stated that the cause of the incident was a massive explosion that occurred before the fire erupted. The death toll may rise given the scale of the disaster, as thick black smoke and flames engulfed the site.
A video posted on social media identified the site as the Kaveh Petrochemical Complex in Bushehr province, approximately 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) south of Tehran. The report added that the smoke was extremely dense, with fumes enveloping the area. Consequently, the number of casualties may increase further.
The fire reportedly started in the complex’s dedicated port but has since been contained, according to the report. While the exact cause of the incident is not yet known, further details are expected as investigations progress. Firefighters and investigative authorities rushed to the scene.
This incident comes just over a month after a deadly explosion at Shahid Rajaei port in Bandar Abbas, which killed 70 people, injured more than 1,000, and caused significant damage to the site. Reports suggested that the Shahid Rajaei port had received a chemical component used in solid fuel for ballistic missiles—an allegation denied by authorities, who have yet to clarify the source of the explosion's power.
Methanol Tanks
A news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) cited Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesperson for the Iranian Red Crescent, as stating that the incident occurred around 11:05 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday. He confirmed that three people were killed and that two more are still trapped aboard a ship carrying methanol tanks.
The agency also quoted Kourosh Dehghan, director general of crisis management for Bushehr Province, who attributed the explosion to welding operations on the ship. The Petro Kaveh Industrial Group’s methanol complex in Bushehr is one of the world’s largest single-train methanol facilities, producing 7,000 tonnes of methanol per day.
Strategic Importance of Bushehr Province
Bushehr Province, located along the Persian Gulf, is a critical economic region for Iran. It hosts major ports, lies near the South Pars gas field—the world’s largest natural gas reserve—and includes the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone. The province plays a pivotal role in Iran’s petrochemical production and energy exports, making it essential to the country's national energy security.
The port, a significant commercial hub for Iran, processes approximately 70 million tons of goods annually and is strategically positioned along the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for nearly one-fifth of the global oil supply. Social media footage of the April explosion showed reddish-hued smoke rising before the detonation, suggesting the involvement of a chemical compound, similar to the 2020 Beirut port explosion.
The April blast disintegrated a building within a row of container structures, satellite images revealed. It also severely damaged a nearby building to the west.
DILIP KUMAR JHA
Editor
dilip.jha@polymerupdate.com
