Explosion shutters Venezuela’s second-largest oil refinery
An explosion and fire at the Cardón refinery in Punto Fijo, Falcón state, forced a halt to operations at Venezuela's second-largest oil refinery, Reuters reports. Authorities say the blaze originated in a gas line inside the complex, which has a processing capacity of 300,000 barrels per day when running normally.
Why It Matters
Cardón is a major component of Venezuela's downstream infrastructure, so an extended outage could reduce the country's fuel output and affect supply chains tied to its oil sector. The incident comes as Venezuela's refining capacity and production have been closely watched by markets and regional energy consumers.
Key Facts
- Facility: Cardón refinery
- Location: Punto Fijo, Falcón state, Venezuela
- Cause (reported): Fire started in a gas line
- Operational status: Activities suspended
- Processing capacity: 300,000 barrels per day
An explosion and subsequent fire at the Cardón refinery in Punto Fijo, Falcón state, has forced the suspension of operations at Venezuela's second-largest oil processing facility, Reuters reported. Officials said the blaze began in a gas line inside the complex, prompting an immediate shutdown of refinery activities.
Cardón's nameplate processing capacity is about 300,000 barrels per day, making it a significant asset for the country's refining network. With the facility offline, Venezuela's ability to process crude into fuels and other petroleum products will be reduced until repairs and safety checks allow restart.
Local and national authorities, along with emergency responders at the site, are handling the incident; Reuters cited reports that the fire originated in a gas line, though the timeline for restoring operations was not provided. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about the reliability of Venezuela's energy infrastructure.
The disruption at Cardón could affect domestic fuel availability and any export-oriented refining flows tied to the facility while it remains offline. Further updates from officials or the operator will be needed to clarify damage assessments, casualties if any, and an expected timeline for resuming processing at the refinery.
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Original source: Al Jazeera