MEXICO – Explosion at Salina Cruz Refinery in Oaxaca Injures Three Workers During Maintenance
Three workers were injured after a small explosion occurred at the “Antonio Dovali Jaime” refinery in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, on Tuesday, June 30, while maintenance work was underway at the facility’s alkylation unit.
The incident reportedly took place at around 1:00 p.m. as a team of approximately 10 employees from the refinery’s pipeline department carried out scheduled maintenance. Three workers suffered burn injuries and were promptly transported to the PEMEX hospital for treatment.
The accident is the latest in a series of explosions and fires that have occurred at the Salina Cruz refinery over its nearly 47 years of operation. The facility processes gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel and has also faced ongoing criticism over its environmental impact on the surrounding community.
The refinery’s alkylation plant has been a particular source of concern among workers since it was installed. Employees have repeatedly warned that the unit poses significant safety risks because it uses sulfuric and hydrofluoric acids, both of which are hazardous to human health. The plant is used to produce high-octane gasoline.
Refinery workers said the explosion occurred close to the area where the maintenance team was working, although the exact cause of the incident has not been disclosed.
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