Explosion and fire at Synthos synthetic rubber plant

Oswiecim, Poland – Synthos has been hit by a blast and fire at its emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR) production plant in Oswiecim, the company has reported.

The incident, which occurred 7 Jan at the Synthos Dwory site, involved “an uncontrolled ignition catalysed an explosion and a fire in the incinerator of the ESBR rubber production installation.”

According to Synthos, the fire was extinguished by the teams of the company firefighters and the state fire brigade within about 45 minutes – with the synthetic rubber unit idled and put into safe conditions.

No employees were injured in the incident and there were no excess emission to the atmosphere or ground waters, the company emphasised. 

However, pipelines discharging off-gases from the rubber drying installation were damaged, the statement noted.

“The causes and estimates of losses are currently under investigation of Synthos and the authorities,” the company concluded.

Synthos claims to be the largest European manufacturer of ESBR and also produces neodymium polybutadiene rubber and high styrene rubber.

Update: The 185 kilotonnes per annum synthetic ESBR has since been restarted, Synthos corporate communications manager Agata Ko?cielnik said in a 12 Jan written statement to ERJ.