Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported an operational incident at the Olmeca Refinery, located in Paraíso, Tabasco.
According to a press release issued by the company, around 7:35 a.m., a leak occurred in a crude oil loading pump, resulting in a minor loss of crude oil, a small fire, and the emission of black smoke.
The company explained that, after the emergency was detected, internal safety protocols were activated, and specialized firefighting personnel extinguished the flames.
Pemex confirmed that no injuries were reported and that the facility continues to operate normally.
“The refinery is operating normally, with no risk to personnel, the community, or the environment,” the company stated.
Pemex also urged the public to consult only information released through official channels to avoid the spread of unverified reports.
Olmeca Refinery Has Recorded at Least Four Incidents
Although Pemex maintains that the incident on July 20 was minor and under control, it is not the first time the Olmeca Refinery has experienced operational events since the start of its testing and commissioning.
On March 17, an incident occurred outside the refinery, associated with heavy rains that caused oily water to overflow and ignite, resulting in the death of five people, one of them a Pemex worker.
On April 9, the state-owned company reported a fire in the coke plant/coke storage pit.
On May 16, the Olmeca refinery, located in Dos Bocas, Tabasco, experienced another fire in the early hours of Saturday, prompting a mobilization of emergency teams within the Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) oil complex.
A Strategic Project for Pemex
The Olmeca Refinery, also known as Dos Bocas, is part of the federal government’s strategy to increase domestic fuel production and reduce dependence on gasoline and diesel imports.
Since the start of its construction, the complex has faced delays in becoming fully operational, as well as reviews of its costs and industrial integration process.
The incident reported this Sunday occurred while the facility continues to progress toward stable operation of its various processing plants.
Source: lasillarota
