A suspected leakage of hydrocarbons via one of the valves and/or flanges in heat exchanger circuit may have triggered the fire on April 20, at the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) section of HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), the oil marketing company has said.

 

HRRL is a joint venture of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.

 

The fire broke out in the heat exchangers stack and remained localized to that area. Swift action was taken to isolate the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU), and all other units within the CDU section. Officials confirmed that all units are structurally safe and unaffected, with no impact reported across other sections.

 

Emergency response teams at HRRL moved quickly and brought the fire under control. There has been no loss of life or injury to any personnel.

 

An investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the incident and to implement necessary remedial measures, according to HPCL. The financial and operational impact is currently being assessed, and is, at this stage, not expected to be material.

 

HPCL reiterated its commitment to operational safety, robust emergency response systems, and adherence to the highest industry standards.