Targu Mures at
August 16, 2021

PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AFTER THE TECHNICAL DAMAGE IN JULY 2021 HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

The internal commission that investigated the cause of the technical damage on July 7, 2021 from one of the ammonia production facilities on the Azomures platform completed the first stage of the report.

In order to identify the cause and to initiate an action plan, the internal accident investigation commission analyzed all available data recorded by the electronic control systems and the technical maneuvers performed in the start-up phases of the installation. The analyzed data show that there were no deviations from normal working parameters and the operating instructions were followed.

At a first assessment of the pipeline system in the affected area, until the complete completion of the detailed investigations in the laboratory, several hypotheses and favorable factors were identified that require further further investigation.

The main hypothesis takes into account a technical design error, the operating conditions in the affected area probably requiring a reconstruction in terms of the materials used for the pipes carrying synthetic gas. A point of view was requested from the installation designer, a specialized international company. In parallel, a Romanian company performs a detailed metallographic analysis.

The detailed preliminary report was sent to the competent authorities for information and was presented to the technical staff of Azomures. The company's priority remains the safety of employees and the local community, and the way this emergency has been handled demonstrates the effectiveness of emergency shutdown measures. During the modernization of the Azomures installations, safe interlocking systems were installed, which act independently of the human factor. These worked properly during the event.

Our colleagues from the Equipment Integrity, Maintenance and Engineering Departments, together with the specialists of the Ammonia 3 plant, are working on the restoration of the affected equipment and on obtaining the approvals for restarting the installation. During this period, we continue to produce fertilizers for agriculture, our products being available through the national distribution network and on the regional market.

Azomures Press Office