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State Security Service initiates criminal case following fire at SOCAR Oil Refinery

13 March 2025 16:55 (UTC +04:00)

A criminal case has been initiated in the State Security Service (SSS) regarding the fire incident at the Oil Refinery, the press service of the State Security Service released information in this regard, APA reports.

On March 5, 2025, complex measures were carried out in collaboration with relevant state authorities in connection with the fire incident at the SOCAR Oil Refinery located in the Nizami district of Baku.

Violation of safety regulations

Preliminary investigations revealed that the relevant safety regulations were not followed in the process of preparing the pump system N-21/1 of the primary processing unit No. 21 of the SOCAR Oil Refinery No. 2 for maintenance in accordance with the work plan.

Specifically, despite receiving a direct written warning about the continued flow of fuel oil in the pump during the shift change, the crew on duty between March 4-5, 2025, handed over the unit to the repair group without fully preparing it for maintenance and ensuring that the pipe was cleaned with heavy diesel fractions and empty.

As a result, while the pump equipment was being separated from the general installation for repair, a mass of flammable fuel oil leaked from the pipe under pressure, ignited and created a fire that spread over a large area, posing a serious threat to human life and health, causing the shutdown of the primary processing unit, burning surrounding structures and the failure of other related technical devices, as well as causing interruptions in the fuel production process and causing material damage.

Reoccurring fire hazard disrupts operations and causes material damage on March 8

Furthermore, on March 8, 2025, as part of the process of eliminating the consequences of the fire and preparing the facility for repair, the same shift team violated safety regulations while discharging diesel products from the pipes and equipment of the primary processing unit. Despite welding work being carried out in the area, the diesel product was discharged onto the land where the processing unit is located, thereby creating a risk of repeated fire, disrupting the work process at the facility, and causing material damage.

Shift supervisor and chief operator held criminally liable

Regarding the incident, the head of the shift team, chief operator Sadig Humbat Garayev, has been detained and is being held criminally liable under Article 223.2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (violation of safety regulations at explosion-hazardous facilities).

Currently, the preliminary investigation into the criminal case is ongoing.