Visakhapatnam: A major fire and a reported explosion at an oil refinery in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, sent massive flames and thick smoke into the sky on Monday, November 2. Visuals showed huge flames and dark plumes rising from the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) complex, prompting concern among people living nearby.

What is confirmed so far

• The location: The fire broke out at the HPCL Visakh refinery in the Malkapuram area of Visakhapatnam.

• The source: Early reports indicate it started in a pitch tank at the refinery’s Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF), a unit that processes heavy residual oil.
• Casualties: As of the latest reports, no casualties or injuries have been confirmed among refinery personnel.
• Response: Emergency teams and fire tenders were mobilised to the site to suppress the flames and keep the fire from spreading.

What is not yet clear

• Whether it was an explosion. Initial visuals and reports described a major explosion, but company sources have indicated that the likelihood of a tank blast was low. The nature of the incident has not been officially established.

• The cause. Nothing has been confirmed about what triggered the fire.
• The damage. The extent of damage and whether the fire has been brought under control were not available in the reports I could find.
• Operations. A fire in a unit like the RUF can lead to a temporary cut in production or a shutdown for safety checks, but no official statement on output or fuel supply was available.

The refinery

HPCL’s Visakhapatnam refinery is one of the company’s two major refineries, the other being in Mumbai. Company figures from earlier years put its capacity at about 8.3 million tonnes a year, with three crude distillation units. It sits in a densely populated coastal city, which is why incidents there draw immediate attention.

A history of serious incidents

The refinery has seen accidents before, which is why residents react quickly to news of fire.

• September 1997: Explosions in LPG tanks killed around 70 people.
• August 2013: A cooling tower fire killed 28 people.
• March 2018: An explosion at an under-construction cooling tower killed one worker and injured about 40.
• April 2019: A fire broke out in the continuous catalytic reformer unit.
• May 2021: A fire in a crude distillation unit was extinguished, with no casualties reported.

Past incidents do not say anything about the cause of today’s fire, but they explain the scrutiny on safety standards at such facilities.

What residents should do

People in the area are advised to follow instructions from local authorities and the police, avoid going near the refinery, stay away from the smoke where possible, and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. They should rely on official updates instead of unverified videos and messages on social media.

What happens next

1. Control and cooling. Fire crews will work to bring the blaze under control and prevent re-ignition.

2. Safety checks. The refinery is likely to isolate the affected unit and inspect nearby equipment.
3. Inquiry. An internal and, if required, official investigation will look into the cause and any lapses.
4. Official briefing. HPCL and the district administration are expected to issue statements on casualties and damage.

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