A major MRPL refinery fire at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL) in Mangaluru has killed one worker and injured at least eight others, according to the company and local authorities.
The explosion occurred on Wednesday around noon after a high-pressure Cold Separator ruptured in the Coker Hydrotreater Unit at MRPL’s 15-million-tonne-per-year refinery.
The incident comes at a challenging time for India’s fuel market, with refiners operating at high rates to address tight fuel supplies linked to disruptions in Middle Eastern energy flows.
MRPL Refinery Fire Breaks Out After Explosion
The explosion occurred inside the Coker Hydrotreater Unit at the Mangaluru refinery.
Following the blast, a major fire broke out at the facility. MRPL immediately isolated the affected unit and deployed its emergency response and firefighting teams.
The fire took approximately two and a half hours to extinguish.
MRPL has not yet disclosed how long the affected unit will remain offline or whether the incident will have a significant impact on overall refinery throughput.
Mangalore Refinery Explosion Kills One Worker
One worker was killed in the incident, while at least eight others sustained injuries.
The explosion was reportedly powerful enough to be heard more than 10 kilometres from the refinery. Local reports also described broken windows and damage to nearby buildings.
Authorities and emergency teams responded to the incident as the refinery worked to contain the fire and secure the affected area.
The extent of damage to the Coker Hydrotreater Unit is yet to be disclosed.
Coker Hydrotreater Unit Remains Under Assessment
The affected Coker Hydrotreater Unit is part of MRPL’s Phase 3 refinery complex.
The unit treats products generated through the refinery’s coking operations. Its role includes removing sulfur and other contaminants from petroleum products.
Any extended outage could affect refinery operations depending on the extent of damage and the time required for inspection and repairs.
However, MRPL had not announced a broader shutdown of the refinery as of Wednesday evening.
MRPL Was Planning Higher Refinery Runs
The MRPL refinery fire comes as the company is seeking to maintain high operating rates amid tight fuel markets.
MRPL had planned to operate its Mangaluru refinery above 100% of its nameplate capacity through March 2027 as refiners respond to tight diesel supplies and strong refining margins.
The company has already adjusted its operations during 2026 amid disruptions to crude supplies and shipping routes.
MRPL had also declared force majeure on gasoline exports earlier this year after the Iran conflict disrupted crude supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
MRPL Refinery Has 15 Million Tonnes Capacity
MRPL operates one of India’s major coastal refining complexes in Mangaluru on the country’s southwest coast.
The refinery has crude-processing capacity of 15 million tonnes per year and produces several petroleum products, including:
- Diesel
- Gasoline
- Jet fuel
- Other petroleum products
The refinery serves both domestic and export markets.
MRPL is a subsidiary of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Will the MRPL Fire Affect India’s Fuel Supply?
The immediate impact of the incident will depend on how long the damaged hydrotreater remains offline.
If MRPL can maintain overall refinery operations while inspecting and repairing the affected unit, the broader impact on fuel production could remain limited.
However, a prolonged outage could put additional pressure on India’s fuel market at a time when refiners are already responding to tighter supplies and disruptions in international energy flows.
The company is expected to assess the damage before determining the full operational impact.
MRPL Refinery Fire: What Happens Next?
MRPL’s next steps will focus on inspecting the damaged Coker Hydrotreater Unit, determining the cause and extent of the incident, and assessing the timeline for repairs.
The key question for the fuel market will be whether the affected unit can be restored without requiring a wider reduction in refinery operations.
For now, the MRPL refinery fire has added another operational challenge for India’s refining sector as companies navigate tighter crude and fuel markets and ongoing disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies.
