Post by : Badri Ariffin

Dos Bocas, Mexico: The state-owned oil giant Pemex has managed to control a fire incident at its Dos Bocas refinery located in southern Mexico, with no injuries reported. This incident is the second fire at the facility, also known as the Olmeca refinery, within the last month, raising concerns regarding operational safety.

The fire ignited on Thursday in a warehouse section of the refinery. Approximately 150 emergency response personnel were swiftly dispatched to manage the situation, effectively preventing it from worsening.

President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned that the fire was restricted to a coke storage area and has now been fully contained. She also noted that personnel from both the navy and the defense ministry collaborated with Pemex staff to address the blaze.

Images shared on social media captured dark smoke and significant flames emerging from the facility in the Gulf port of Dos Bocas; however, these images remain unverified by independent sources.

Victor Rodriguez, the Director of Pemex, plans to inspect the site to evaluate the recovery efforts and potential damages. Currently, the cause of the fire and its financial implications remain undisclosed.

This event follows a tragic incident on March 17, resulting in five fatalities due to an oil residue ignition near the refinery's boundary. The recurrence of such events underscores the persistent issues faced at this site.

The Dos Bocas refinery, constructed at a cost exceeding $21 billion—significantly over its initial estimate—was envisioned as a pivotal project by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. It aims to lessen Mexico’s dependence on fuel imports and bolster national energy independence.

Despite its vital role, the refinery has encountered numerous operational difficulties since its initiation in 2024 and has fallen short of meeting its announced production goals.

As of January, it was processing about 205,000 barrels of crude oil daily, yielding over 77,000 barrels of gasoline and nearly 78,500 barrels of diesel—far below its maximum capacity of 340,000 barrels per day.

The recent fire incident is poised to draw more scrutiny into the efficiency and safety regulations at one of Mexico's critical energy infrastructure projects.

#world news #Global News #World Update #Mexico