A tragic maintenance accident at Motor Oil’s massive refinery near Corinth killed one contract worker on Friday, October 9, 2026. A second worker sustained critical head injuries and unfortunately passed away in the hospital on Sunday.
Both victims worked for an outside contractor. The incident occurred Friday morning at the Agioi Theodoroi facility, located 60 kilometers(37 miles) west of Athens. Motor Oil stated that the crew was performing extensive preventive maintenance when the accident occurred.
Company ambulances rushed the critically injured men to Corinth Hospital. Doctors later transferred them to Thriasio Hospital for specialized care. A third worker received medical treatment at Corinth Hospital for mild respiratory distress.
Authorities launch investigation
Following the fatal incident, local police escorted the maintenance crew’s contractor to a regional police station. A public prosecutor subsequently ordered his arrest as part of the legal procedure.
Local authorities continue to analyze the scene to establish the exact cause. Motor Oil immediately released a statement expressing deep condolences. The company pledged comprehensive support to the families of the deceased workers. Management also confirmed total cooperation with the official state investigation.
Despite the tragedy, the refinery continued normal operations throughout Friday. Reuters reported no active fire and no physical damage to the heavy machinery.
Understanding Motor Oil’s infrastructure
Motor Oil (a prominent private Greek energy conglomerate) focuses primarily on crude oil refining and petroleum distribution. The diverse group also operates large-scale businesses in electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and renewable energy.
The Agioi Theodoroi plant operates as Greece’s second-largest oil refinery. It accounts for over one-third of the total national refining capacity. The strategic facility produces high-grade fuels and specialized lubricants for domestic and global markets.
The company traces its roots back to 1970. The initial board appointed Nikos Vardinoyannis as chairman and chief executive. The enterprise officially inaugurated the Corinth refinery on November 11, 1972.
Following Nikos’s sudden death in 1973, his brother Vardis Vardinoyannis assumed corporate leadership. A massive crude distillation complex expanded processing capacity in 1975.
Motor Oil joined the Athens Stock Exchange in August 2001. The group purchased fuel retailer AVIN Oil in 2002, expanding its commercial retail footprint.
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