Blast During Restart of MOL Steam Cracker Kills One and Injures Several

Overview

• Company and government statements say the explosion happened during the restart of the Olefin‑1 steam cracker and one worker was killed with seven people suffering burn injuries.
• Officials reported on Friday that emergency teams contained and later extinguished the fire and that a disaster‑response mobile laboratory found no hazardous airborne concentrations above safety thresholds.
• Rescue crews airlifted injured workers by helicopter to hospitals in Miskolc and Debrecen and local authorities have sealed the area while cleanup and safety checks proceed.
• Economy Minister István Kapitány and MOL chief Zsolt Hernádi traveled to the site and investigators are focusing on a compressor as the likely initiating point of ignition during the restart.
• The Olefin‑1 unit makes about 370,000 tonnes of ethylene per year so the accident could affect local polyethylene feedstock supply while damage assessments determine how long production will be disrupted.