The Salahuddin 2 refinery fire in the Baiji district of northern Iraq has resulted in the death of one worker and injuries among refinery staff, according to official Iraqi statements issued on Monday.
The incident occurred inside the gasoline upgrading unit at the major oil facility, prompting an immediate response from civil defense and safety teams.
Authorities issued differing initial figures regarding the number of injured, while confirming that the fire was fully brought under control and an investigation is underway.
Security Media Cell Confirms Casualties
Iraq’s Security Media Cell said in a statement that one worker was killed and six others were injured after a fire broke out at the Salahuddin 2 refinery in Baiji, located in Salahuddin province.
The statement noted that civil defense teams intervened quickly and succeeded in containing the blaze, while the injured were transferred to Baiji Hospital for treatment.
Security Media Cell head Lieutenant General Saad Maan said the injuries were mainly caused by smoke inhalation, adding that the body of a refinery worker was found at the site and transferred to the forensic department in the province.
Civil Defense Announces Full Extinguishing
The Salahuddin Provincial Civil Defense Directorate later announced that the Salahuddin 2 refinery fire had been completely extinguished.
Civil Defense Director Brigadier Muath Subhi told the Iraqi News Agency that internal refinery teams, supported by external civil defense units, managed to bring the fire under control shortly after it erupted.
He confirmed one fatality and six injuries, adding that refinery management had launched a formal investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident.
Burned Body Found Inside the Facility
In a separate statement, the Civil Defense Directorate confirmed the discovery of a severely burned body belonging to one of the refinery’s workers, noting that safety procedures were implemented to prevent any recurrence of the fire.
Oil Ministry Cites Technical Cause, Higher Injury Figure
In a subsequent statement, Iraq’s Ministry of Oil provided further details on the cause of the Salahuddin 2 refinery fire, reporting that one worker was killed and 13 others were injured.
The ministry said the fire broke out at 7:45 pm in one of the compressors within the gasoline upgrading unit during routine replacement work carried out as part of daily operations.
According to the statement, safety and firefighting teams managed to control the fire by 8:00 pm, with all extinguishing operations completed by 8:15 pm.
The ministry extended its condolences to the family of the deceased worker and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, without elaborating on the discrepancy in casualty figures reported earlier by other authorities.
Strategic Importance of the Salahuddin 2 Refinery
The Salahuddin 2 refinery is part of the Baiji refining complex, one of the largest oil refineries in Iraq.
The facility suffered extensive damage during the period when the Islamic State group controlled large parts of northern and western Iraq starting in June 2014, and during subsequent battles that ended with Iraqi forces regaining control of Baiji in October 2015.
Following rehabilitation efforts, the refinery was officially reopened in February 2024 as part of Iraq’s strategy to boost domestic refining capacity.
Economic Context
Iraq relies on oil revenues for around 90 percent of its state income and is the second largest crude oil exporter within OPEC, producing an average of about 3.5 million barrels per day, making incidents at refining facilities particularly sensitive for the country’s energy sector.
Conclusion:
The Salahuddin 2 refinery fire highlights ongoing safety challenges at major industrial facilities in Iraq, despite official assurances that the blaze was fully contained and that investigations are ongoing to clarify its causes and prevent similar incidents in the future.
