Clariant JV begins construction of masterbatch production unit in Saudi Arabia

A fire broke out at a chemical plant in Eastern Saudi Arabia on Saturday at 11:40 am. Jubail United Petrochemical Co., a chemical plant in Al-Jubail KSA, was struck by a fire that claimed 12 lives and left 11 others injured.

In a statement released by the Saudi Press Agency, the fire started during a maintenance operation at the plant where a total of 23 people were present. The maintenance contractors and technicians were replacing catalysts when the incident began.

A thick black smoke began to spread quickly around the place, making it hard for the employees to escape. Chemicals from inside the plant burned and produced gas that suffocated and trapped employees, according to ABC News.

Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Abdulqader, spokesman for the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, assured that five out of the 11 injured are now stable while the six others remain at critical condition.

Some of those who died were Benny and Daniel of Thodupuzha, Vincent from Adyarpadavu, Konchar Bhasakar from Bajpe, Daniel and two others from the Philippines. Other names have yet to be released.

The firefighters and Saudi Civil Defence personnel managed to extinguish the fire and cleared the place after 10 minutes, as per Bilbaoya.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), a chemical union in KSA holding 75 percent venture in Jubail United Petrochemical Co., has immediately sent an email seeking comment regarding the incident.

The conglomerate later responded with a promise of maximum assistance to the injured after conducting an inspection on the site on Sunday.

Jubail United Petrochemical Co. is one of the petrochemical companies in KSA producing Ethylene, Polyethylene, Ethylene Glycol (EG), Linear Alpha Olefins (LAO), as reported by The Latin American Herald Tribune.