A major explosion has rocked the Petrocedeno oil upgrader in Venezuela’s Anzoátegui state, igniting a large fire and sending thick plumes of smoke billowing across the facility. The blast occurred near a crucial distillation tower, prompting immediate evacuations as emergency teams rushed to contain the inferno.
Local media footage showed intense flames engulfing parts of the plant, with firefighters battling the fire late into the night. Authorities have not yet released information on casualties, and state oil company PDVSA has remained silent on the scale of damage or the impact on crude production.
The Petrocedeno plant plays a critical role in Venezuela’s oil sector, upgrading heavy crude for export—a cornerstone of the nation’s struggling economy.
This explosion comes just days after another industrial disaster at the Muscar complex on November 13, where a gas blast killed eight workers and slashed fuel supplies by 60%. The back-to-back incidents have heightened concerns over safety standards and the stability of Venezuela’s vital energy sector.
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