Fire starts at Novatek LNG station in Russia's Leningrad region amid drone presence
Date
1/22/2024 8:15:11 AM
(MENAFN) Early Sunday morning, Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of Russia's Leningrad region, announced that a fire had erupted at a Baltic Sea station owned by Novatek, the country's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer. The incident occurred at the Ust-Luga port, situated on the Russian side of the Gulf of Finland, approximately 170 kilometers west of St. Petersburg and 35 kilometers from the Estonian border. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as employees were successfully evacuated, according to Drozdenko's statement on the Telegram application.
The governor did not specify the cause of the fire at the Novatek station, heightening concerns in the region. Reports surfaced of drone sightings in the area, prompting questions about a potential connection. Residents in the vicinity reported hearing the sound of a drone, followed by several explosions, as per the Russian Shot news website on Telegram. Fontanka news agency, based in St. Petersburg, added to the narrative, noting that at least two drones were observed heading towards St. Petersburg before news of the fire emerged.
Despite the unsettling developments, there were no immediate reports of damage to three large international tankers anchored near the fire, according to Fontanka. Notably, the port of Ust-Luga is a crucial hub for Russia's LNG exports.
Adding to the intrigue, the Russian news website Baza, known for its ties to security services, shared a photo on Telegram depicting massive flames in the sky above what seemed to be an industrial complex. The absence of details on the cause of the fire and the reported drone sightings has heightened speculation, prompting authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly.
MENAFN22012024000045015682ID1107751086
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.