The scale of the fire is unclear and no casualties have been reported so far. (Representational) A fire which broke out at a Shell-owned chemical plant on the same site as Essar Oil UK's Stanlow refinery in northwestern England on Wednesday has been extinguished. Essar said that operations at its refinery were unaffected by the fire, the cause of which is currently unclear. The Shell Higher Olefins Plant (SHOP) is separated from the refinery by a road and rail tracks. Essar operates the chemical plant as well as the refinery. "Earlier this afternoon, a fire occurred at the SHOP chemical plant," an Essar spokesman said. The fire was extinguished later on Wednesday, he added. "Operations and production of fuels and other products from Stanlow Refinery have not been affected. All supplies to customers are normal," the spokesman said, adding all staff were safe and accounted for. At Stanlow, Shell uses ethylene to manufacture polymer, lubricant and detergent intermediates, plasticisers and detergent alcohols, according to its website. Shell was not immediately available for comment. Earlier on Wednesday, fire engines from five different locations were sent to the 200,000 barrel per day oil refinery. "There was a report of a large plume of black smoke. We have several pumps at the scene," a spokeswoman for the Cheshire fire service said. In a statement, the service said engines from five locations were on the scene. Essar Oil UK, owned by the Indian billionaire Ruia brothers' Essar Group, bought the refinery near Ellesmere Port from Shell in 2011. Around 900 people work at the refinery, according to its website. "The site produces a range of oil products including about one sixth of Britain's transport fuels annually - about 4.4 billion litres of diesel, 3 billion litres of petrol and 2 billion litres of jet fuel," Essar Oil UK's website said. © Thomson Reuters 2018<doc-sep>Hundreds of workers were evacuated from a major UK oil refinery after a large fire broke out at the plant. Flames and clouds of thick black smoke could be seen from miles away pouring from Stanlow Oil Refinery, in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in images posted online. All staff at the site have been evacuated and are accounted for, the plant’s operator, Essar Oil UK, said in a statement. The firm added the blaze had broken out at a chemical manufacturing building on the site and had not affected the refinery itself. “Both the site emergency services and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance to deal with the incident,” it said. “All personnel have been accounted for. Refinery operations at Stanlow remain unaffected.” The refinery employs more than 900 staff and an additional 500 on-site contractors, according to Essar figures. Brian Howell, 60, said he was relaxing in the Eastham Ferry area, around eight miles away, before he “heard a loud 'whoosh' type explosion”. “I looked over to Stanlow and there was an aggressive fire and lots of black smoke,” he said. 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The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on London’s Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London.<doc-sep>Richard Reeves from Cheshire Police said: "We understand that this incident may have caused alarm to the local community and we would like to reassure people that it has not affected the wider area and there are not believed to be any risks to the public."<doc-sep>
Firefighters battled a blaze at a major oil refinery this afternoon. Flames and clouds of thick black smoke could be seen at Stanlow Refinery, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, in images posted online. All staff at the site were evacuated and accounted for, Cheshire Fire Service said. The force, which was called at 2:16pm, said the blaze was contained to a Shell-owned manufacturing building inside the plant, The Chester Chronicle reports. The refinery employs more than 900 staff and an additional 500 on-site contractors, and supplies 16% of all UK road transport fuels, according to operator Essar Oil UK. Six fire engines attended the blaze, which could be seen as far as eight miles away. A number of local residents reported a strong smell of smoke in the air, with some saying they had been advised to keep windows and doors shut. (Image: PA) (Image: @thomodavie) Stanlow produces 4.4 billion litres of diesel and three billion litres of petrol annually, according to Essar Oil UK. Phil Owen was waiting for the ferry at Seacombe when he looked down the Mersey and saw what looked like an explosion. He said: "I was just looking down the river at the refinery when I suddenly saw a large flash and a fireball. "There was a big plume of black smoke and then there was a really bright flare off. "There was a massive plume of black smoke, it was definitely not an insignificant explosion." A spokesperson for Essar said the incident is was at the Shell Higher Olefins Plant (SHOP) chemical plant which is owned by Shell and operated by Essar. It is located on the north site of the plant, near to the Manchester Ship Canal, and is separated from the refinery by a road and rail tracks. Essar operates the chemical plant as well as the refinery. (Image: PA) At Stanlow, Shell uses ethylene to manufacture polymer, lubricant and detergent intermediates, plasticisers and detergent alcohols, according to its website. Shell was not immediately available for comment. A fire service spokesman said: “Shortly after 2pm today emergency services received reports of a fire within the SHOP chemical plant at the Stanlow site in Ellesmere Port. “Crews from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service along with onsite firefighters from Essar quickly brought the fire under control and it was fully extinguished within three hours. “The fire caused a large plume of smoke above the site, which has now dispersed. Fire crews remain at the site. “The incident was confined to the manufacturing area of the site and did not affect the refinery. All staff within the affected area were evacuated as a precaution and there were no reports of any injuries.” Inspector Richard Reeves from Cheshire Police said: “We understand that this incident may have caused alarm to the local community and we would like to reassure people that it has not affected the wider area and there are not believed to be any risks to the public.” (Image: Andy Evans) Essar Oil UK, owned by the Indian billionaire Ruia brothers' Essar Group, bought the refinery near Ellesmere Port from Shell in 2011. Around 900 people work at the refinery, according to its website. "The site produces a range of oil products including about one sixth of Britain's transport fuels annually - about 4.4 billion litres of diesel, 3 billion litres of petrol and 2 billion litres of jet fuel," Essar Oil UK's website said. Last September, Essar Oil UK said it expected a $250-million upgrade of the refinery to improve its basic profit margin by $1 a barrel as it will be able to process a greater variety of cheaper crude oils and raise output. Recent expansion work was finished in March. (Image: John Edwards) An Essar spokesman said: "Earlier this afternoon a fire occurred at the SHOP chemical plant. Both the site emergency services and Cheshire County Fire Service are in attendance to deal with the incident. "All personnel have been accounted for. Refinery operations at Stanlow remain unaffected." A spokesman from the Environment Agency said: "We are aware of the fire at the Stanlow Oil Refinery in Elllesmere Port, Cheshire, and are working with Cheshire Fire Service to reduce any environmental impact."