Fire in Spain Impacts Urethane Raw Material Production

Tarragona Petrochemical Plant Fire: Industry Disruption and Safety Concerns

PUdaily | Updated: November 29, 2023

On the evening of November 22 (last Wednesday), a notable fire broke out in the ethylene tank area of the northern petrochemical facility in Tarragona, Spain, operated by Repsol. This unforeseen incident may have far-reaching effects on Repsol itself as well as the neighboring facilities of Covestro and Dow Chemical in the same industrial park.

Repsol’s industrial complex in Tarragona covers multiple sectors, ranging from the production of various petroleum products to industrial and transportation fuels, making it a large-scale operation. The cause of the fire is still unclear, but the company claimed that the ignition originated from a storage tank in the cooling area of the olefin plant, leading to an ethylene leak and subsequent ignition. The occurrence of this event prompts us to reflect on whether the petrochemical industry places sufficient emphasis on safety management while striving to improve production efficiency.

Fortunately, firefighters from the company and the professional fire brigade at the industrial park responded quickly and successfully controlled the fire, avoiding casualties. This accident has raised a high level of alertness among other companies in Tarragona. Covestro and Dow Chemical quickly halted production, including multiple grades of PO and polyols production. Covestro has four production sites in Spain, one of which is located in the Tarragona industrial park where the fire occurred. This site includes an MDI facility, a hydrochloric acid hub, and infrastructures for serving other companies within the park. Dow Chemical produces a variety of products including olefins, ethylene derivatives, pyrolysis products, and octenes at its Tarragona complex.

This fire has had a significant impact on the Spanish chemical industry, testing the crisis response capabilities of various companies and causing a production stagnation in Tarragona industrial park. As one of the leading chemical companies in Spain, Covestro’s production halt will undoubtedly have a ripple effect on the entire supply chain, further affecting the supply of chemical products in the international market.

Dow Chemical’s expansion plans at its Tarragona facility and the construction of Pack Studios demonstrate their confidence in the future market. Pack Studios, equipped with state-of-the-art film production and testing capabilities, is aimed at primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging applications. Pack Studios Tarragona will drive world-leading innovations in food and industrial packaging sectors, while also providing innovative adhesive solutions for global label customers. However, the recent unforeseen fire incident serves as a reminder that safety remains the utmost concern, even in highly modern petrochemical plants. The petrochemical industry must continually enhance safety training, strengthen equipment maintenance and monitoring, and reduce the probability of accidents through technological innovations.

Repsol has stated that an investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire, and companies like Covestro and Dow will assess the losses and develop response plans. This event should also prompt other chemical companies to reevaluate their own safety systems to ensure not only efficient but also stable production.

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