Latest News

Sources say that the fire on the pipeline in Venezuela has been almost entirely extinguished.

According to three sources, the fire that was caused by a pipeline explosion in a natural-gas complex in Venezuela has been almost completely put out on Wednesday. This forced some regions to impose stricter power rationing.

The accident that left at least five injured workers on Monday led to the closure of the Muscar Gas Complex in the Eastern region operated by PDVSA. This complex distributes gas to be reinjected into oilfields or for domestic use.

People from Musipan, Potrerito and the surrounding towns said that the balls of flames seen at the start of the week were no longer visible. They added that black smoke was still visible.

As a result of the paralysis of the plant, the state oil company is working to prevent a widespread shortage of natural gas.

The state oil company announced late Monday that a multi-disciplinary team led by PDVSA CEO Hector Obregon is evaluating ways to minimize the impact of an explosion which hit a 26-inch gas pipeline Muscar-Soto.

In northeastern Nueva Esparta, where many hotels, resorts and other businesses host tourists at Margarita Island, the state utility Corpoelec began Tuesday a power-rationing plan. It said that it would cut supply up to eight hours per day because there was not enough gas to produce electricity.

Witnesses and sources claim that power rationing has been extended to other parts of South America in the past few days. (Reporting from Caracas Newsroom, Marianna Pararaga's writing; Barbara Lewis' editing)

(source: Reuters)