Last week, 8/25/26, during the initial start-up of the Amur Gas Chemical Complex in Russia’s Far East, has so afr claimed the lives of 15 workers, mostly contractors and sent 39 to the hopsital.
The facility is a huge polyethylene/polypropylene project being constructed by Sibur and Sinopec and had not yet entered production. Equipment was undergoing commissioning and pre-startup activities, and the company was reportedly conducting testing while preparing systems for operation. Some storage facilities were being filled with feedstock and installations were being prepared for startup.
Russian technical regulator Rostekhnadzor reportedly conducted an inspection in spring 2026 and identified multiple explosion/fire safety issues. Reported findings included:
- Problems with explosion-protection of equipment
- Missing fastening components on explosion-protected electrical equipment
- Improper installation of some pressure gauges
- Combustible material used in portions of industrial wastewater structures
- Missing identification/marking and warning signs on process piping
- Steam-piping work being performed without appropriate condensate-collection equipment.
The regulator ordered corrections by May 25. According to reports citing the enforcement proceedings, two items remained unresolved after the deadline. Then, on August 13—only 12 days before the fire—the company was fined 50,000 rubles for failing to comply with the regulatory order.