Only 4% of the fires in Venezuelan refineries were fully investigated

An audit conducted by RJG Engineering early in March for underwriter QBE details a high increase of accidents reported at the refineries Cardón and Amuay in the Paraguaná Refining Complex (CRP), north-west Venezuela. 

The report outlines that 222 accidents, including 100 fires, took place at the two refineries. However, just nine (4%) out of the 100 cases were closed upon an in-depth investigation and recommendations carried out eventually. 

Gustavo Benítez, a former engineer who worked at Venezuelan state-run oil company Pdvsa for 25 years, and worked as a safety manager, stressed, "By the time I left the company in 2003 some 20 light fire events were reported, bringing all of them under control by fire extinguishers . It is abominable that today 100 fires are yearly reported just between Cardón and Amuay.

Another issue raising much concern is the fact that just 4% of the accidents have been fully investigated when all of them should have been investigated so as to carried out corrective actions and improve safety inside the facilities (...)," noted Benítez. 

Given the aforementioned information, daily newspaper El Univesal recently contacted Pdvsa's authorities so as to inquire about the content of the audit report compiled by RJG Risk Engineering, yet the information and communication department of that company expressed it would not comment on the issue. 

vsalmeron@eluniversal.com

Translated by Jhean Cabrera