Fire injures workers at India's Haldia oil refinery

Key facts

• A fire erupted at a Haldia Petrochemicals facility in eastern India.
• The fire injured at least 20 people, with five in critical condition.
• The blaze started in a naphtha pipeline.
• The fire spread to nearby homes.
• The cause of the fire is under investigation.
• Preliminary information suggests a possible leak or unauthorized theft point as the cause.
• Operations at the Haldia refinery have not been affected.
• An explosion occurred at a PDVSA oil rig in Venezuela's Apure state.
• The explosion injured at least eight workers.
• The injured workers were transported to neighboring Colombia for medical assistance.

A fire at a Haldia Petrochemicals facility in eastern India has injured at least 20 people, with five of those individuals in critical condition. The blaze originated in a naphtha pipeline and subsequently spread to nearby residential areas. Operations at the refinery have not been affected thus far. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and preliminary findings suggest a potential leak or an unauthorized theft point as possible causes.

In a separate incident, an explosion occurred at an oil rig operated by Venezuela's state-run oil company, PDVSA. The incident took place in Apure state late Sunday and resulted in injuries to at least eight workers. These injured individuals were transported across the border to neighboring Colombia to receive medical treatment.

The Haldia incident is currently under investigation by authorities. The spread of the fire to nearby homes raises concerns about community safety in the vicinity of the petrochemical plant. The nature of the suspected leak or theft point is not yet detailed, but it points to potential security or infrastructure integrity issues. The PDVSA rig explosion highlights ongoing operational challenges in Venezuela's oil sector, with the injured workers receiving cross-border medical care.