The largest petrochemical plant in Ukraine – Karpatneftekhim (Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region) – stopped the production of low-pressure polyethylene (HDPE) due to a fire at the olefin complex. The release of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is continuing, according to the ICIS-MRC Price Review.

According to the company’s customers, the Ukrainian manufacturer, after a fire in the ethylene production pipeline, was forced to almost immediately suspend the production of low-pressure polyethylene. While the release of polyvinyl chloride continues, but with reduced capacity utilization.

The exact timing of idle polyethylene production is not yet voiced. Further operation mode of Karpatneftekhim will be determined not earlier than next week, when the audit of the effects of the fire on the equipment will be completed.

As previously reported, a fire broke out on the evening of January 12th. Pyrogaz was burning in the open area of ​​the plant; a 15-meter column of flame was visible above the plant. As of 23:48 on January 12, a fire at the Karpatneftekhim plant was localized.

Karpatneftekhim is one of the largest enterprises of the petrochemical complex of Ukraine. Currently, the company is capable of producing 300 thousand tons of polyvinyl chloride annually, 200 thousand tons of caustic soda, about 180 thousand tons of chlorine, as well as 250 thousand tons of ethylene and 100 thousand tons of polyethylene.