Fire at Salina Cruz refinery causes injuries

MEXICO CITY, June 15, 2017 – A fire broke out at Pemex’s Salina Cruz refinery on Wednesday, injuring nine workers and causing damage.

Operations at the 330,000-bpd refinery had already been halted the day before due to flooding as a result of tropical storm Calvin and operations were scheduled to resume on Wednesday. However, the flood caused an oil spill when the plant’s waste containment ponds began to overflow. The fire started in the refinery’s pump house when the spill reached an ignition point.

Around 550 residents had to be evacuated from the area. The refinery, which is located in the state of Oaxaca, remains shut down.

The refinery’s flooded areas include a desulphurisation unit and 14 crude storage tanks.

Salina Cruz is Mexico’s largest refinery and just one of three for which Pemex has been seeking private partners to carry out maintenance and upgrade projects. The refinery first began operating in 1979.

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