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4 November, 2025A fire at an oil pipeline in Basra, southern Iraq, has killed two workers and injured eight others following a gas leak at the Burjisiya Zubair 1 pumping station operated by the Basra Oil Company. The incident, which occurred within one of Iraq’s largest oil production areas, was reportedly caused by deteriorated equipment in a complex network of pipelines that require regular maintenance, according to initial union reports.
The Iraqi General Federation of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Unions (IGFOGPU) criticized the government and company management for justifying the accident as an unavoidable event. IGFOGPU called for an investigation into the accident to determine the extent of the company's responsibility, especially given the poor health and safety conditions. In a statement, IGFOGPU said the company must use advanced fire prevention and control methods and train workers to handle this type of fires.
Hassan Juma, IGFOGPU president, said:
"This incident confirms the company's failure to provide adequate health and safety conditions. The ministry should have taken all necessary measures to prevent the accident. We will ensure that the state compensates the workers and their families.
"But the government must also address the root cause of the problem and maintain the pipelines to prevent any future accidents."