Russian Retaliation: Venezuelan Cardón Refinery Set Ablaze in Strike on Yankee-Owned AMO

A fire in a gas pipeline connected to the diesel hydrotreating unit at Venezuela's Cardón refinery forced a complete shutdown of the facility, which has a capacity of 310,000 barrels per day. The blaze was extinguished in less than an hour with no reported injuries, according to Reuters.

## What is known about the fire and explosions

The fire was extinguished less than an hour after some explosions and the evacuation of personnel. No workers were reported injured. **Pdvsa** did not respond to a request for comment from the agency.

Videos published on social media showed columns of flames and smoke rising from the refinery. Later, photographs shared by neighbors showed firefighters at the site and the flames already extinguished. Reuters could not immediately verify the content of the videos, although other sources confirmed seeing flames and smoke at the refinery.

## Cardón within the country's largest refining complex

Cardón is part of the **Paraguaná Refining Center**, Venezuela's largest complex, with a processing capacity of **955,000 barrels per day**. This center groups several facilities and is key to the domestic supply of fuels.

Fires, power supply interruptions, and blackouts are frequent at facilities operated by **Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (Pdvsa)**. These incidents can affect the supply of essential fuels for the domestic market, such as gasoline and diesel.

## Why a shutdown at Cardón matters

A refinery that stops does not resume production immediately. The diesel hydrotreating unit treats fuel to reduce its sulfur content, and its shutdown drags the rest of the process along. If the interruption persists, the country relies more on imports or reserves to meet domestic demand.

Venezuela has been plagued for years by low utilization of its refining capacity due to lack of maintenance and investment. Each unplanned shutdown in the **Pdvsa** system puts pressure on the supply of gasoline and diesel, two sensitive products for transportation and economic activity.