A major fire erupted early Sunday at the Ust-Luga at the Ust-Luga natural gas terminal, located just 70 miles west of St Petersburg and operated by Russia’s leading gas producer, Novatek.
The incident, captured in a video shared by Leningrad Oblast Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko on Telegram, showed billowing smoke and flames at the chemical complex.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported as personnel were successfully evacuated from the scene. Governor Drozdenko declared a high alert regime in the Kingiseppsky district, where the port is situated, emphasizing that the fire has been “localized.”
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations and local fire services swiftly responded to combat the blaze, which began shortly before 02:45 am local time, according to local official Yuri Zapalatski. The cause of the fire has yet to be officially announced, leaving authorities and the public in suspense.
Despite the intense firefighting efforts, the situation remains critical. The fire reportedly engulfed a 100 cubic meter container, creating additional challenges for emergency responders.
Notably, Russia’s Defence Ministry announced successful thwarting of Ukrainian attacks overnight, but no mention was made of the incident in the Leningrad region. The exact connection, if any, between the two events remains unclear.
The Ust-Luga complex, crucial for processing natural gas condensate into various fuels, plays a pivotal role in Novatek’s operations. Furthermore, it serves as the starting point for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline destined for Germany. The pipeline, however, has faced setbacks and delays, having never entered into service since a sabotage raid in September 2022.
