Explosion in Rotterdam kills at least one person, is under investigation
The cause of the explosion is still unclear and is being investigated.
An explosion at a petroleum storage facility in Rotterdam's port claimed the life of at least one person on Thursday, causing injuries to several others, according to officials. The origin of the blast remains unknown, as the cause is currently under investigation by authorities. Gunvor, a leading energy commodities trading firm, reported an incident occurred during maintenance work on a storage tank.
However, a police spokesperson stated there was no immediate evidence of sabotage, and all possible scenarios are being examined. Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, houses oil refineries, liquefied natural gas terminals, and numerous petrochemical facilities, with major companies like Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, and Gunvor Energy operating within its premises.
Gunvor confirmed they were cooperating with local law enforcement, while Shell stated their operations at the port were not impacted by the explosion. The Rotterdam Port authorities reassured that liquefied natural gas terminals were unaffected by the blast. ExxonMobil, on the other hand, shut down all units at its 191,000 barrels per day Rotterdam refinery due to a power outage, as reported by consultancy Wood Mackenzie in a client alert.
ExxonMobil has not yet responded to requests for further comment. Rotterdam Port authorities emphasized there is no connection between the explosion and the power outage at the refinery.
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