An explosion rocked the Tabriz Oil Refinery in northwestern Iran on Sunday following a nitrogen tank rupture, injuring eight people, according to Iranian media reports.
Authorities attributed the blast to a technical malfunction and overpressure in the tank system.
ISNA News Agency reported that the explosion caused "minor injuries" to eight workers at the site. “Due to increased pressure and a technical fault, a nitrogen tank exploded at the Tabriz refinery,” ISNA quoted local officials as saying.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the facility, prompting concerns among residents in the surrounding area. However, emergency response teams quickly contained the situation, and operations at the refinery reportedly continued without major disruption.
State media emphasized that no fatalities occurred and the facility remains operational. “The Tabriz refinery is functioning normally. Initial investigations confirm there were no human losses,” a spokesperson for the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) stated.
The incident has triggered an internal review, and experts are expected to assess the refinery’s safety protocols, particularly around gas containment infrastructure.
The Tabriz refinery, one of Iran’s major fuel processing centers, plays a critical role in supplying petroleum products to the northwest region and nearby provinces. Incidents at such facilities, while not frequent, raise concerns about aging infrastructure and the challenges faced by the energy sector under international sanctions.
This explosion marks the latest in a series of industrial incidents in Iran over the past few years, highlighting growing domestic scrutiny over safety compliance in strategic sectors.
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