ExxonMobil said the fire has been extinguished, and the Singapore Civil Defense Force was investigating the cause of the blaze. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil said the 115,000 b/d unit would not resume production "until it is safe to do so."

A company spokesperson couldn"t provide an estimate on how long the unit would be out of action, but said the refinery"s second 185,000 b/d unit continues to operate.

Industry observers said the decision to restart the damaged unit will likely be left to Singapore"s Ministry of Manpower, which undertakes its own investigation when there are fatalities involved.

They also said any extended closure, required by authorities investigating the deaths, would affect the gasoline market, as regional supplies are tight.

Police say the two workers killed were from Singapore, and the injured workers were from Bangladesh and India.

PIN/OGJ.COM