Fatal Fire at Nizhnekamskneftekhim Petrochemicals Plant, Tatarstan, Russia
Mar 30, 2026
Basic Incident Information
Date of incident: Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Location: Nizhnekamskneftekhim petrochemicals plant, Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan region, Russia
Facility type: Large petrochemicals complex producing synthetic rubbers and plastics
Incident type: Fire following unspecified equipment malfunction
Incident Description
According to plant owner Sibur, a large fire broke out at the Nizhnekamskneftekhim complex due to an unspecified equipment malfunction. One person was killed and around 50 others were injured in the incident. More than 60 firefighters were deployed to contain the blaze at the sprawling facility.
Sibur reported that medical services were operating on site and that injured personnel were receiving necessary assistance. The company also stated that specialists were monitoring air quality around the complex and had not detected any threats to the environment or local residents.
Russia’s aviation regulator temporarily restricted activity at Nizhnekamsk airport, located about 1,000 km east of Moscow, as a precaution. Local mayor Radmir Belyaev said windows were blown out in several apartment blocks, indicating the force of the incident. Unconfirmed social‑media images showed a large smoke plume rising from the complex, amid reports that an explosion may have preceded the fire.
Casualties and Impact
Fatalities: 1 worker confirmed dead.
Injuries: 50 people reported injured.
Off‑site impact: Windows blown out in nearby residential buildings; temporary airport restrictions imposed.
Environmental/community impact: No air‑quality threats detected to local residents according to company monitoring.
Preliminary Learnings and Safety Focus (for EntirelySafe publication)
With only high‑level details available, learnings should remain general and process‑safety focused:
Critical importance of equipment integrity and preventive maintenance in petrochemical facilities to prevent fires and explosions triggered by equipment malfunctions.
Need for robust emergency response capability, including large‑scale firefighting resources and on‑site medical support, for major hazard installations.
Continuous environmental and community monitoring (air quality, blast impacts) and rapid communication with local authorities and residents when large plumes, shockwaves, or window damage occur.
Thorough root‑cause investigation of the initiating equipment failure and any escalation factors, followed by implementation and sharing of corrective actions across similar units and sites.
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