A fire broke out at ExxonMobil’s (NYSE: XOM) petroleum and chemical production site in Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon, northern France, on Monday. The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. local time, prompting the activation of the Internal Operations Plan of the Esso Refining Gravenchon platform, as reported by local media outlets.
The fire, which originated at a gasoline distillation unit, generated thick plumes of smoke, according to statements from the Seine-Maritime prefecture. Fortunately, the response from the company’s own firefighters helped bring the blaze under control, eliminating the need to deploy external fire brigade services to the site.
ExxonMobil spokeswoman confirmed that three individuals received medical treatment on site, with two subsequently transferred to a local hospital for further care. However, it remains too early to assess the impact of the fire on the refinery’s production capacity.
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The refinery, situated in Normandy on the banks of the Seine river, boasts two distillery towers and a substantial capacity of 240,000 barrels per day, making it one of the largest refineries in France. Its strategic location supplies the Ile-de-France region, including Paris, with petroleum and chemical products.
Despite concerns about air quality, both ExxonMobil and local authorities reassured residents that air samples have been taken and that there has been no significant impact on the local environment thus far. Nevertheless, video footage circulating on social media depicted a towering column of black smoke rising from the site.
The Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon industrial site, where the refinery is situated, serves as ExxonMobil’s largest integrated platform in Europe, producing a wide range of petroleum and chemical products. This includes gas, fuels, lubricants, polymers, and specialty products, contributing significantly to the regional supply chain.
Situated along the Seine, near the Le Havre platform, the Port Jerome-Gravenchon refinery forms a crucial part of Europe’s refining and chemical complex. Its strategic location offers direct access to multimodal connections and utility networks, further enhancing its importance within the industry.
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