Sweden – Fire Breaks Out At Borealis Chemical Plant

A fire has recently broken out at Borealis’ production location in Stenungsund, Sweden.  The fire was contained and no people were injured during the incident. 

May 9, at 20.45 CEST a local fire occurred at the steam cracker at Borealis’ production location in Stenungsund, Sweden. The emergency plan was immediately activated by the local crisis team.

The fire brigade arrived on site promptly and took steps to contain the fire.

Local emergency services triggered an alarm at 21.55, recommending residents in the area to stay indoors; the alarm was lifted at 05.15 on Sunday

Thanks to the quick mobilisation of the fire brigade, the fire was contained the next day at 5.15am and the situation was fully under control and caused no injuries.

The Austrian polyolefins and fertilizers major said the fire at Borealis’ steam cracker in Stenungsund, Sweden, was fully extinguished by the morning of Sunday 12th May.

It said it was too early to establish the root cause of the incident at the cracker’s compressor.

“We are currently analysing the impact of the fire,” it concluded.

Borealis’ Stenungsund cracker has production capacities of 625,000 tonnes/year for ethylene and 200,000 tonne/year of propylene.

“Borealis is working closely and openly with the authorities to investigate the root cause of the incident, and will take every action to prevent a similar accident from happening again,” said Borealis.

At the end of April the company lifted a force majeure at the cracker, in place for most of the month after a technical issue.

The company also produces at the site low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE).