Yesterday, November 19, an explosion followed by a large fire occurred at the Petrocedeno refinery in eastern Venezuela. The incident led to a rapid evacuation of personnel and a major deployment of emergency services.
What Happened
According to local media and PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela), a powerful blast was first heard near a key distillation column. Within minutes, the facility was engulfed in flames. One source suggested that the fire may have spread to a nearby naphtha production unit, which would have significantly complicated firefighting efforts.
About the Facility
The explosion occurred at the Petrocedeno site in Anzoátegui state — one of the key components of the Complejo Petroquímico José Antonio Anzoátegui. This complex is part of the important Orinoco Oil Belt, where extra-heavy crude is upgraded into export-grade products. Any shutdown of these operations can heavily impact the country’s economy.
Additional Information
• Fire crews battled the blaze late into the night, including in storage areas.
• No injuries have been officially confirmed so far.
• PDVSA has not yet released official comments on the cause, extent of the damage, or impact on production.