Written by: La Tabla/Plataforma de Data Journalism 19 NOV 2025
An explosion followed by a fire was reported at the atmospheric distillation plant of the state-owned company Petrocedeño, located in the JOSE industrial complex, in the northern state of Anzoátegui.
The event occurred in the atmospheric column, a critical piece of equipment in the crude improvement process, and was contained thanks to the prompt actions of the operators, who successfully isolated systems and prevented human casualties.
🔍 Possible sabotage in a geopolitical context
Although the official causes of the incident have not been confirmed, technical sources related to the installation do not rule out the chance of sabotage. This hypothesis gains traction in light of the recent announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who publicly disclosed that the CIA is conducting covert operations in Venezuela. The timing of this announcement and the incident has raised concerns among workers and analysts in the energy sector.
⚙️What happened in the atmospheric column?
Witness accounts from technical personnel present at the scene indicate that the explosion occurred in the atmospheric distillation column, one of the most delicate stages of the refining process. This system operates after desalination and preheating of the crude, which is introduced into the atmospheric furnace before entering the column.
At this phase, several cuts of crude are obtained, including:
– Automotive diesel, which requires reprocessing to eliminate contaminants like sulfur before being distributed in the country.
– Naphtha, used as a diluent in other processes.
– Atmospheric residue, which is transferred to vacuum furnaces and subsequently to the vacuum distillation column, continuing the improvement cycle that culminates in the coking unit.
🚨 Operational impact and exemplary response
The incident took place in a key facility for diesel supply in Venezuela. The automotive diesel produced by Petrocedeño is shipped by sea to the Paraguaná Refining Center (CRP), where it undergoes final treatment. Despite the risks, operators managed to activate emergency protocols, isolate multiple systems, and protect inventories, including diluents and automotive diesel.
“The operators were like spartans,” commented an internal source. “They activated immediately and prevented the event from escalating. No human damages has occured.”
🛢️ Strategic relevance of Petrocedeño
Petrocedeño is part of the JOSE complex, one of the most important hubs in the circuit for improving extra heavy crude in the Orinoco Oil Belt. Atmospheric distillation is an essential stage for transforming crude into marketable products, and any disruption in this area can have significant repercussions on the national supply chain.