MEXICO – Fire at Pemex’s Salina Cruz Refinery Activates Emergency Protocols
Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) activated its emergency response protocols on Wednesday following a fire at the Antonio Dovali Jaime refinery in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. The incident occurred in the heater of Unit 800, a critical component of the refining process, and led to the temporary suspension of some operations as a precaution.
The fire broke out at the Hidros 1 plant within the refinery complex, located in the port of Salina Cruz in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Intense flames and a dense column of black smoke, visible from several kilometers away, alarmed residents and workers in the surrounding industrial corridor.
According to preliminary information, refinery personnel detected a sudden increase in smoke and fire during the morning hours, prompting immediate alerts. In response, Pemex deployed internal fire brigades along with external emergency services to control the situation.
Authorities reported that specialized teams acted in a coordinated manner to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other strategic areas of the facility. As part of standard safety procedures, certain refinery operations were halted to reduce risks to workers and infrastructure.
No injuries have been confirmed so far, although medical assessments are being carried out on employees who participated directly in the emergency response.
The Antonio Dovali Jaime refinery is one of the most important installations in Mexico’s National Refining System, which means any disruption to its operations carries significant technical and economic implications.
Pemex announced that once the fire is fully extinguished, a technical investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the incident and assess possible damage to the equipment. The company stated that its priority is to ensure operational safety and prevent similar events in the future.
Residents in nearby areas reported a strong fuel odor and lingering smoke for several hours. However, authorities indicated that evacuations or public health alerts were not necessary.
Pemex added that it will continue to inform the public as inspections progress and operations move toward normalization.
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