Rafael Ramírez, the People’s Minister of Petroleum and Mining and President of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), said that at 7:15 am on Tuesday firefighters had put out fire in three tanks at Block 23 of the Amuay refinery, at the Paraguaná Refining Center, in the northwestern state of Falcón.

Ramírez highlighted that thanks to the work of over 200 volunteer firefighters of PDVSA, as well as the volunteer of the petrochemical business unit Pequiven, all fires were extinguished in the last fuel tank.

“The process of cooling down the area has begun. The area will continue to be sealed off. However, the greater problem that we had at the refinery has been resolved”, said Venezuela’s minister of Petroleum and Mining.

Minister Ramírez said that the fire at tank 200 had been extinguished and the fire at tank 203 was 60% contained. “The day is dawning with hope and willingness to keep our promise. We have fulfilled our goal. The fires are totally extinguished. Of course, all subsequent tasks that are related to assessment and assurance in the area in order to put an end to the emergency situation in our Paraguaná Refining Center have started”.

To see the Paraguaná Refining Center site