Fire in Electrical Control Room: How BELFOR Restored a Petrochemical Plant in 1 Month Instead of 3+
A fire in a critical electrical control room at Kumho Petrochemical could have caused months of downtime and full equipment replacement. Instead, BELFOR Korea restored the damaged systems within one month—avoiding extended production loss and significantly reducing costs. As the client put it: “Without BELFOR, it would have been impossible to complete the recovery in such a short time.”
Fire in MCC Room Threatens Plant Operations
On June 10, 2025, a fire broke out in the No. 2 MCC (Motor Control Center) room at Kumho Petrochemical’s Yeosu Rubber Plant in South Korea. The fire started in a low-voltage panel and quickly spread to the overhead cable trays, producing heavy smoke and contaminating the entire room.
Although the flames were extinguished within hours, the real damage was less visible. Soot, humidity, and extinguishing water had penetrated deep into the electrical systems. This reduced insulation resistance, accelerated corrosion, and created a high risk of delayed equipment failure.
High Risk of Long Downtime and Replacement
The affected infrastructure included critical MCC panels, inverters, and electrical systems essential for plant operations. Replacing these components would have led to significant costs and a shutdown of more than three months.
At the same time, the plant had no prior experience with this type of damage. “This was our first electrical room fire, and we were deeply concerned about the severe corrosion risk,” said Myeong-Soo Kim, Team Manager at Kumho Petrochemical. “Initially, we felt helpless facing the situation.”
Restore Instead of Replace
BELFOR Korea was brought in via the insurer and responded immediately.
Instead of replacing the affected equipment, BELFOR applied specialized restoration methods designed for fire-damaged electrical systems. These included chemical cleaning to neutralize corrosive residues and dry ice blasting to remove soot without damaging sensitive components.
The approach focused on restoring functionality while eliminating long-term failure risks.
Fast, Structured, and Around the Clock
The restoration project ran under extreme time pressure. BELFOR teams worked continuously, including nights and weekends, to meet the required timeline.
The work followed a highly structured process. Each day began with a toolbox meeting to align teams and ensure safety, while detailed progress reports were delivered every evening. “Every morning started with a clear plan, and every day ended with a transparent update,” the client noted. “This showed a level of structure and discipline we associate with a truly global company.”
Beyond the MCC room, BELFOR also restored adjacent office areas, including furniture and equipment that had been affected by soot contamination.
Full Recovery in 1 Month
The entire restoration was completed within approximately one month. This allowed Kumho Petrochemical to resume normal operations far earlier than expected.
Compared to a replacement scenario with more than three months of downtime, the project significantly reduced business interruption and associated costs. Almost all affected electrical panels and systems were successfully restored.
“It was astonishing to see how contaminated panels and even office interiors returned to their original condition,” said Kim. “We were able to restart operations without delay—something we had not thought possible at the beginning.”
A Trusted Partner in Crisis
The collaboration fundamentally changed the client’s perspective on fire damage recovery.
Following the project, Kumho Petrochemical officially recognized BELFOR Korea with an appreciation award. The company emphasized not only the speed of the response but also the professionalism and expertise demonstrated throughout the process.
“Without BELFOR’s support, this schedule would have been impossible. We were able to overcome a situation we initially could not manage on our own.”
See also: Interview with Myeong-Soo Kim, Team Manager of Kumho Petrochemical
