Tragic Incident at Mexico's Largest Refinery Claims Two Lives
A fire at Pemex's Salina Cruz refinery resulted in two fatalities and one injury. The incident, caused by a storm-induced overflow, led to partial operational pauses at Mexico's largest domestic refinery.
One year and one day ago, a fire incident at Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex)'s largest domestic refinery in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, resulted in the loss of two lives and left one person injured. The state-owned petroleum company, founded in 1938, has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including aging infrastructure and declining production.
The incident occurred at the Salina Cruz refinery, which was inaugurated in 1979 and stands as the largest on Mexico's Pacific coast. Arturo Recio, the plant manager, explained that a storm caused drains filled with oily waste to overflow into the complex's walkways, leading to the fire. Tragically, a 21-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, both contractors for Pemex, lost their lives in the incident. Another man was hospitalized due to injuries sustained.
As a precautionary measure, operations at the main distillation plant and a gasoline plant were temporarily halted to prevent further damage. However, other units remained unaffected. Recio assured that cleaning and repair efforts were promptly initiated.
The Salina Cruz refinery, with a crude oil processing capacity of 330,000 barrels per day, typically operates at about 70% of its capacity. This facility is crucial for Pemex, as Mexico ranks as the world's 11th largest oil producer as of 2024. Despite the incident, a Pemex source reported that the refinery resumed normal operations shortly after the fire was contained.
Local media accounts indicated that the fire originated in the refinery's internal courtyards, near major plant areas. The swift response of company workers and civil protection personnel successfully extinguished the blaze, preventing a potentially more catastrophic outcome.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Pemex in maintaining its aging infrastructure. The company has been implementing a new business plan aimed at reducing debt and increasing production, while also exploring partnerships with private entities to enhance efficiency. However, critics have raised concerns about Pemex's environmental and safety record, particularly in light of several incidents at the Salina Cruz refinery in recent years.
The strategic importance of the Salina Cruz refinery extends beyond domestic fuel production. Its location makes it a key asset for oil exports to the Asia-Pacific region, contributing significantly to Mexico's federal budget through the oil industry.
As Pemex continues its efforts to modernize refineries and boost domestic fuel production, incidents like this serve as stark reminders of the critical need for robust safety measures and infrastructure upgrades in Mexico's oil industry.
