Explosion at MRPL’s Coker Hydrotreater Unit; 1 Dead, 8 Injured

In an unfortunate incident, an explosion occurred at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) facility in Kuthethoor, near Mangalore. The incident happened at 12.20 p.m. IST on 30th September 2026. This blast occurred in the Coker Hydrotreater (CHT) unit and was followed by a fire.

Cold Separator Ruptures in CHT Unit Triggering Blast & Fire

One person was found deceased on the spot, while eight more were injured during the accident. One of the eight injured sustained 35% burn injuries and was admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

MRPL said that the cold separator operating at high pressures (around 70 bar) in the Coker Hydrotreater unit ruptured and triggered a fire. The company said that the battery limits of the affected unit were immediately isolated, and MRPL’s emergency response and firefighting teams were deployed to control the situation.

“The CM called me…to enquire about the incident. I informed him about the situation, and he has appointed a senior officer to conduct an inquiry and find out the actual cause behind this incident”, said Mr. U. T. Khader Fareed, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka.

MRPL’s Phase III Complex Impacted

The Coker Hydrotreater Unit (CHTU) in question belongs to MRPL’s Phase III complex. It is a critical “hydro-sulphur treatment” facility designed to filter out sulfur and other contaminants from heavy coker gasoil. The hydrotreater processes feed the refinery’s 50,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Petrochemical Fluid Catalytic Cracker (PFCC), which is responsible for producing gasoline, LPG, and propylene.

Immediate Financial Assistance Announced by MRPL

In a press release, MRPL announced financial assistance of Rs. 1.20 crore to the bereaved family. Adequate Medical care is being given to the injured. The company said that they are drafting a proposal for Mediclaim insurance for secondary workforce and expects to finalize this proposal within approximately four weeks.