Fires hit Pemex refinery, fuel tanks in Veracruz

Two fires broke out today at installations operated by Mexico's state-owned Pemex, both in the state of Veracruz.

A first fire was reported at 1:30pm ET at the company's 285,000 b/d Minatitlan refinery. The fire was controlled after 30 minutes by Pemex teams, Veracruz's civil protection agency said. It is unclear if the refinery shut operations.

The second fire occurred on a pipeline that runs to Pemex's Tuzandepetl fuel storage hub, according to the same source. The second fire occurred approximately 30km (19 miles) away from the refinery. In its latest report at 5pm ET, Veracruz's civil protection agency still reported the second fire as active and attached an image with smoke from the fire extending several miles into the air.

Pemex did not immediately replied to a request for comment from Argus. The company has not released any information.

By Sergio Meana