Date: January 16, 2023
Location: Giurgiulești, Cahul (Moldova)
Address: E87, 5318
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Grain Storage (Agriculture)
Equipment: Grain Silo
Company: Trans-Oil Group
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Trans-Oil Group is an agro-industrial holding company with a wide range of activities that include oilseed crushing, grain handling and storage, international commodities trading, vegetable oil in bulk, bottled oil and production of flour. It employs 2,800 people, primarily in sunflower oil production as well as in origination and logistics.
Incident Description:
On January 17, 2023, ProTV reported an explosion and fire at a grain terminal at a seaport in Giurgiulești, Moldova.
When the explosion occurred at around 6:00 a.m., one of the port’s six grain silos collapsed. According to firemen the silo, which contained over 1000 tons of crushed sunflower seeds, was engulfed in flames. Twenty firefighters were sent to extinguish the flames.
According to the General Police Inspectorate, the recurrent fires at the silos at the port endanger critical infrastructure of national importance and security in the border area.
Mold Street reported that the management of Trans-Oil Group decided to dismantle the vertical silos used for storing scrap. This proactive step aims to eliminate the risk of uncontrolled collapses or fires associated with the silos.
No injuries were reported. Early news reports suggested that a short circuit triggered the incident, but this was not confirmed.
Research Team Update:
On April 21, 2023, Elevatorist posted a video to its YouTube channel stating that on the morning of January 20, an elevator for grain storage in the International Port of Giurgiulesti caught fire. It was contained on January 22 and firefighters carried out a controlled collapse of the structure.
Previous Incidents
ProTV reported on January 16 that this incident marked the third silo to collapse on the site in recent months. On September 15, 2022, two silos collapsed. On November 13, a temperature increase of up to 100℃ was recorded in two of the remaining four silos. It is believed that crushed sunflower seeds in these silos continued to smoulder.
Sources:
ProTV (January 16, 2023)
ProTV (January 17, 2023)
Mold Street
Elevatorist YouTube channel (April 23, 2023)
