Iran’s largest and oldest oil refinery in Abadan experienced a fire on Saturday, July 19, 2025, resulting in the death of one employee and injuries to others, state media and local reports confirmed .
The blaze began in Unit 70, a section undergoing repairs, when a pump started leaking.
Initial investigations reported no evidence of sabotage or foul play .
Firefighters from Abadan and nearby regions extinguished the fire within two hours, and refinery operations reportedly continued without interruption .
Officials identified the refinery’s age and outdated equipment as a likely contributing factor.
Located in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, where temperatures have soared near 50 °C (122 °F), the facility’s old infrastructure was highlighted as a key weakness under environmental stress .
Established in 1912, the Abadan refinery plays a vital role in Iran’s energy industry.
It processes around 520,000 to 630,000 barrels of crude oil daily, supplying approximately a quarter of the country’s fuel requirements .
Its capacity has fluctuated over decades due to historical events like nationalisation, war, and recent investments .
Authorities also confirmed that three workers suffered serious injuries in the incident .
While no operational disruptions were reported this time, the fire has once again brought attention to persistent safety and maintenance challenges across Iran’s older energy facilities .
This fire followed similar recent incidents across the nation involving gas leaks or electrical faults, such as residential and commercial building fires.
Experts say that outdated production infrastructure, hit hard by years of international sanctions, continues to be vulnerable.
Moving forward, industry observers say Iran must speed up upgrades and enforce stricter safety measures at key sites like Abadan to avoid future accidents and ensure stable fuel output.