Oil India Limited reports fire accident at Numaligarh Refinery in Assam

A fire incident occurred at the hydrocracker unit (HCU) of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, operated by Oil India Limited, in vessel Number VV-04 on May 29, 2023, at approximately 19:20 hours.

The affected vessel, a cold high-pressure separator, caught fire, prompting immediate action from the firefighting teams. Fortunately, the fire was successfully brought under control within 20 minutes of its breakout. However, as a safety measure, cooling operations through water spraying are still ongoing.

While an assessment of the damage caused by the fire has not been conducted yet, it has been confirmed that there were no reports of personal injuries or fatalities resulting from the incident. As a precautionary measure, the nearby Hydrogen unit has been temporarily shut down to ensure the safety of the facility and personnel.

In response to the incident, Oil India Limited has initiated the formation of an external investigation committee. This committee will carry out a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the fire and assess the overall impact of the incident. Understanding the cause and extent of the incident is crucial to prevent similar occurrences in the future and to implement appropriate measures to enhance safety protocols.