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After Investigating Accident at Ethanol Producer, ANP Released Technical Report with Causes, Safety Failures and Preventive Measures to Improve Operational Management in Brazilian Plants
The accident at an ethanol producer that occurred on October 4, 2020, in Lins (SP), led the National Agency of Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) to publish a detailed investigation report, according to a news article published.
The incident took place at the Lins Agroindustrial S/A facilities, where an explosion during welding work resulted in the death of one worker and minor injuries to another.
The company reported the incident to ANP the next day, October 5, complying with the regulatory deadline.
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The ANP Investigation Commission was immediately appointed to investigate the occurrence and propose industrial safety measures to prevent new accidents in the biofuels sector.
The report was approved by ANP’s Board on October 3, 2025, marking an important action for institutional transparency.
The document details the causes of the accident, the identified failures, and technical recommendations to strengthen risk management in ethanol plants in the country.
Risk Management in Ethanol Plants: Technical and Operational Failures Revealed by ANP
The investigation conducted by the ANP concluded that the explosion occurred during the attempt to weld a water pipeline over the equipment known as the volute chamber 1, used to store the product after fermentation.
During the execution of the second pass of the weld, an internal explosion occurred that caused the structural collapse of the chamber and the death of the employee performing the repair.
Despite the severity of the event, the ANP confirmed that there were no leaks of substances or environmental impacts.
Production was halted for two days, the necessary time for the technical expertise to gather data from the site. Operations were gradually resumed without affecting the supply of ethanol in the market.
The report identified four main causal factors: the chamber was electrically charged; the work was performed in an area not classified as hazardous; the work release document did not provide clear grounding instructions; and the equipment design did not prevent the generation of static electricity.
Operational Safety in the Biofuels Industry: Root Causes and Lessons from ANP Report
According to the ANP, the root causes of the accident are linked to structural management failures.
The report points out four critical points: insufficient project documentation, failure in risk analysis of the process, lack of area classification, and issues in work release control.
These factors demonstrate the need for a more robust operational safety in Brazilian plants.
The report also highlights the importance of preventive processes and maintenance with rigorous technical control.
The biofuels industry, which is constantly growing, needs to adopt integrated industrial safety management standards, ensuring that workers, equipment, and facilities are protected against electrical and mechanical risks.
Accident Prevention in Industrial Plants: Recommendations and Next Steps from ANP
The ANP drafted eleven general recommendations for the ethanol sector and two specific ones for Lins Agroindustrial S/A, focusing on preventing similar incidents in other production plants.
These measures are mandatory for implementation, as determined by Law No. 9,847, of October 26, 1999, which regulates the sanctions applicable to companies in the energy sector.
With the approval of the report, the administrative process to define the applicable sanctions for the company begins.
More than a punishment, the report serves as a warning for the entire production chain: failures in risk analysis, technical documentation, and work release can result in significant human and economic losses.
By making the report public, the ANP reinforces its commitment to transparency, technical oversight, and building a solid safety culture in the biofuels sector.
The aim is to prevent similar tragedies from happening again and to ensure that the growth of ethanol production in Brazil is accompanied by responsibility and technical rigor.
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