http://news.yahoo.com/fire-spreads-venezuela-refinery-41-dead-210502723.html

Fire spreads at Venezuela refinery, 41 dead

By JORGE RUEDA | Associated Press – 13 mins ago

PUNTO FIJO, Venezuela (AP) — An intense fire at a Venezuelan refinery spread to a third fuel tank on Monday nearly three days after an explosion killed at least 41 people and injured more than 150.

Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said a third tank ignited at the Amuay refinery, which has been in flames since Saturday's blast.

Government officials had previously said they had the blaze contained, and the spread to another tank was an apparent setback to their plans to quickly restart the refinery. While a thick column of smoke blew in the wind, Ramirez told reporters the fire was still contained.

"There is no risk of a bigger event," Ramirez said, without specifying how much longer it might burn.

Officials have said a gas leak led to the blast, but investigators have yet to determine the precise causes. Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega said at a news conference that 151 people were injured, 33 of whom remain in hospitals.

A 9-year-old girl was missing in the area, Health Minister Eugenia Sader said on television.

Criticisms of the government's response to the gas leak emerged from local residents as well as oil experts. People in neighborhoods next to the refinery said they had no official warning before the explosion hit at about 1 a.m. on Saturday.

"What bothers us is that there was no sign of an alarm. I would have liked for an alarm to have gone off or something," said Luis Suarez, a bank employee in the neighborhood. "Many of us woke up thinking it was an earthquake."

The blast knocked down walls, shattered windows and left streets littered with rubble.

People who live next to the refinery said they smelled strong fumes coming from the refinery starting between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, hours before the blast, but many said they weren't worried because they had smelled such odors before.

Then, a cloud of gas ignited in an area with fuel storage tanks and exploded.

President Hugo Chavez visited the refinery on Sunday. In a televised conversation with the president, one state oil company official said workers had made their rounds after 9 p.m. and hadn't noticed anything unusual. The official said that at about midnight officials detected the gas leak and "went out to the street to block traffic."

"And later something happened that set (it) off," Chavez said. "A spark somewhere."

The disaster occurred little more than a month before Venezuela's upcoming Oct. 7 presidential election. Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said the disaster shouldn't be politicized, but he also strongly criticized a remark by Chavez, who had said "the show should continue, with our pain, with our sorrow, with our victims."

"It seems irresponsible, insensitive... to say 'the show should continue,'" Capriles told reporters in Caracas. The opposition leader also repeated past criticisms about the number of accidents at the state-owned oil company.

"Accidents occur for a reason, and we Venezuelans are expecting there to be a conclusive response, a serious, responsible and transparent investigation, in order to see what the situation was," Capriles said.

Energy analyst Jorge Pinon said the accounts of the hours leading up the explosion raise concerns.

"The fact that the gas leak went undetected for a number of hours and that there was no evacuation alarm (or) order indicates to me that there is a lack of safety related planning and behaviors throughout the complex, and most important in nearby communities," Pinon said.

"The key to refinery safety is not only equipment and maintenance but processes and behaviors," Pinon added, "not only within company employees but also contractors and surrounding communities."

U.S. refineries have also had their share of serious accidents, most recently the destructive blaze at Chevron's refinery in Richmond, California.

Some experts say that U.S. refineries have increasingly used more sensing systems to alert workers to gas leaks, and also have established safety protocols.

In the Houston area, for instance, "there are 10 or 11 different community groups that the various industries meet with frequently. They stay pretty well connected, with a set agenda," said Alex Cuclis, a research scientist at the Houston Advanced Research Center who used to be a refinery engineer.

"They have a phone number to call. And the industry can and occasionally does set off alarms to 'shelter in place,' and most who live in the communities know that means shut off air conditioners so that they aren't bringing in outside air," Cuclis said.

Amuay is among the world's largest refineries and is part of the Paraguana Refining Center, which also includes the adjacent Cardon refinery. Together, the refineries process about 900,000 barrels of crude per day and 200,000 barrels of gasoline.

Fires continue to burn at Venezuela's Amuay refinery

A family walks on a street as flames rise after an explosion at the Amuay refinery on 26 August, 2012

Firefighters say they are being slowed down by strong winds

Fires continue to burn at an oil refinery in Venezuela, the site of a deadly explosion early on Saturday.

Two tanks are still alight but state oil company officials say they have the situation under control.

Forty-one people died and more than 80 were injured in the blast at the Amuay refinery in northern Falcon state, one of the largest in the world.

Mining Minister Rafael Ramirez said operations could resume within two days of the site being declared safe.

A doctor at Coromoto Hospital said on Sunday that two victims had died of burns sustained during the blast, raising the number of dead from the earlier figure of 39 to 41.

A thick column of black smoke continued to rise from the refinery on Sunday.

Firefighters said their work had been slowed down by increasing winds and a change in wind direction.

Mr Ramirez said fuel and oil supplies in Venezuela would not be affected as the state had a large enough stockpile to cover the shortfall.

Government officials said the blast occurred at 01:15 local time on Saturday when a gas leak created a cloud that ignited.

http://rt.com/news/paraguana-venezuela-refinery-explosion-545/

Death toll rises to 39 in Venezuela refinery explosion (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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Published: 25 August, 2012, 14:00
Edited: 26 August, 2012, 09:27

Image from Twitter/@MelMarcano, Video courtesy of youtube user Ray86shakedown

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TAGS: Oil, Health, South America, Accident, Blast

A large explosion has struck Venezuela’s largest oil refinery, killing 39 people and injuring more than 80. The blast did significant damage to the plant as well as nearby houses and is thought to have been caused by a gas leak.

Among the dead include a 10-year-old boy, though 18 of the 39 who lost their lives were National Guard troops stationed at the refinery, Vice President Elias Jaua said after traveling to the afflicted area. He said authorities were working “to save the greatest number of lives.” At least 80 more were reported injured, nine of them seriously. Health Minister Eugenia Sader the other 77 had suffered light injuries and were released from hospital after receiving treatment.

President Hugo Chavez declared there would be three days of mourning and gave his condolences to the victims' families.

"This affects all of us," Chavez said while speaking on state television by phone. "It's very sad, very painful." He ordered a "deep" investigation to determine the cause of the blast.

The explosion occurred at approximately 1:07am local time (6:07 GMT) on Saturday, producing a tremor that was felt in nearby communities, smashing windows and damaging buildings. Massive balls of fire were seen over the refinery, with black plumes of smoke filling the sky.

"There was a gas leak," Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez told state TV. "A cloud of gas exploded … it was a significant explosion, there is significant damage to infrastructure and houses opposite the refinery."

Local official Stella Lugo told Venezuelan state news that the situation was now under control.

“There is no risk of another explosion. At the moment we are concentrating our efforts on helping the injured," said Lugo.

Local authorities have restricted access to the refinery and the surrounding area in response to the blaze.

Ivan Freites, secretary of the United Federation of Oil Workers told state news that at 12:30am local time (05:30 GMT) a propane-butane leak was reported at the plant.

“The senior staff at the plant said they had used foam to control the leak and eliminate the risk of a fire,” said Freites. He added that the explosion could have been triggered by a problem with a gas valve that led to a pressure buildup.

The Amuay refinery produces 955,000 barrels a day, making it one of the largest in the world. Despite the refineries economic importance, Venezuela‘s Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said the country’s current fuel supplies were sufficient to guarantee there would be no major disruption in meeting domestic needs or continuing exports despite the blast.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9499324/Explosion-kills-24-at-Venezuela-refinery.html

5:04PM BST 25 Aug 2012

Comment

An explosion tore through Venezuela's biggest oil refinery on Saturday, killing at least 24 people, wounding more than 80 others and halting operations at the huge facility in the OPEC nation's worst industrial accident in recent memory.

State TV showed footage of flames and billowing clouds of smoke coming from the refinery as dawn broke. Nearby homes were damaged by the blast, and officials said a 10-year-old child was among the dead.

"Unfortunately, 24 people have died, the majority of them members of our National Guard," Vice President Elias Jaua told reporters in local Falcon state. "Four people are in hospital right now, two were transferred to Zulia state and 50 people, thank God, were sent home after treatment because their injuries were not serious."

The deadly blast, caused by a gas leak, followed several minor accidents and unplanned stoppages that have afflicted state oil company PDVSA over the last decade, prompting critics to accuse President Hugo Chavez's government of mismanagement.

Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said he expected production at the 645,000-barrels-per-day (bpd) Amuay facility, which makes up two-thirds of the world's second largest refinery complex, to resume within two days. He said the blaze hit nine storage tanks holding mostly crude oil and some processed fuels.

Located on a peninsula overlooking the Caribbean sea in the west of Venezuela, Amuay is part of the Paraguana Refining Center, the second-biggest refinery complex in the world with an overall capacity of 955,000 bpd.

Amuay accounts for half of Venezuela's total domestic output - about 1.3 million bpd - of refined fuels.

Ramirez told reporters that PDVSA crews working through the night managed to reduce the intensity of the blaze by 80 percent, and that the company would not suffer any shortages.

"We have all our other storage facilities," he said.

He had earlier described the blast, which happened at about 1am local time as a "significant explosion."

Health Minister Eugenia Sader traveled to a local hospital to visit some of the injured, and Falcon state governor Stella Lugo said the authorities were sparing no expense.

"We are deploying our whole fire service team, all our health team, the whole contingency plan on the orders of Comandante Chavez to first of all care for the people affected by this emergency," Lugo told state TV.

PDVSA has struggled with repeated refinery problems in recent years, crimping its capacity and its ability to fulfill ambitious expansion plans. Power faults, accidents and stoppages for maintenance have also curbed exports of oil products.

In 2010, there was a massive fire at a PDVSA fuel terminal on the Caribbean island of Bonaire, then a blaze at a dock at the Paraguana complex that halted shipping for four days.

Also in 2010, a natural gas exploration rig, the Aban Pearl, sank in the Caribbean. All 95 workers were rescued safely.

and some photos of same..........

EnlargeDaniela Primera/AP

Fire rises over the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, on Saturday. An explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery, killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens, an official said.

Large plumes of smoke rise from the Amuay refinery as national guards soldiers watch near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery, killing and injuring dozens, an official said. Photo: Abisaid Cermeno / AP

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444812704577610813650522158.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

By KEJAL VYAS

Daniela Primera/Associated Press

Fire rose over the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday.

CARACAS, Venezuela—A refinery gas leak caused an explosion early Saturday that killed 24 people and injured more than 50, government and local union officials said.

A 10-year-old boy was among those killed in the explosion at the Amuay refinery, the oil-rich country's largest facility, authorities said.

There was "severe damage" to the 640,000-barrel-a-day refinery and the surrounding area, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said on state television network VTV. Buildings and houses around the plant were destroyed by the blast, including a post used by the National Guard, the government said.

The explosion, which a union official said might have started in the propane-and-butane unit of the refinery, forced a shutdown of Amuay. The facility was slated to reopen in two days.

"There was a big explosion at 1:05 a.m. that people thought was a tremor, an earthquake," Stella Lugo, the state governor, said on state TV. She called on residents to remain calm. The situation was under control and "we have evacuated all the areas that need to be evacuated," she said.

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Fire is seen after the explosion at Amuay oil refinery.

Officials said there was no immediate threat of another explosion at the site and that a fire that resulted from the initial blast has been contained.

Amuay and other major refineries in Venezuela in recent years have experienced repeated delays because of accidents and mishaps. Critics said that posed a challenge to President Hugo Chávez's plans to increase oil output sharply in coming years.

Mr. Ramirez said he had ordered an investigation into the explosion. He said nine storage tanks had been destroyed but that domestic fuel supplies wouldn't be disrupted.

"It's a very serious situation…this never happened before at our refinery," said Ivan Freites, a local leader of the oil-workers union. Members of the National Guard, refinery workers and people living near the plant were among the injured, he said.

Vice President Elias Jaua said military reinforcements were sent to offer medical assistance to those affected.

Government opponents attributed many of the country's oil-sector woes to insufficient investment as state oil monopoly Petroleos de Venezuela SA diverted large portions of revenue to government social programs that have become central to Mr. Chavez's leadership.

PDVSA in April said it had concluded maintenance efforts at Amuay's catalytic-cracker unit, which was supposed to allow for "reliable operations for the next four years."

The company said in a March report to the National Assembly that general refinery maintenance efforts last year were delayed until this year because of what it called "low availability of materials." Amuay was among the facilities that had maintenance delayed.

Mr. Ramirez, the oil minister, said earlier this year that the Paraguana complex, which includes Amuay and has a total capacity of 955,000 barrels of crude oil a day, was functioning normally at 79% of capacity, despite production disruptions.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/9499122/Lonmin-57pc-of-staff-report-for-duty.html

3:07PM BST 25 Aug 2012

Comment

Platinum giant Lonmin said nearly 60pc of workers reported for duty on Saturday at one of its two sets of shafts as it sought an accord to end a labour dispute that has claimed 44 lives.

"Eastern Shafts are working this weekend and we have 57pc attendance across these shafts. The rest of the mine is closed as this is their off-weekend," Lonmin said in a statement.

Lonmin, the world's third largest platinum firm, said it would spend the weekend persuading the workers to return to the job following the nation's deadliest police action since apartheid.

"It's quite good news that 57 pc of the workers in this section pitched up," a spokeswoman Sue Vey told AFP.

The company did not give numbers of the workers on duty.

On Friday, Lomnin reported only about 24pc of its 28,000 work force at Marikana signed in.

It said talks were ongoing to find a "common ground among all stakeholders."

"We continue to communicate with our employees to reassure them that we are all working together to bring resolution and we encourage them to come back to work."

Workers are demanding a wage increase to 12,500 rand (£942), claiming they currently earn only 4,000 rand.

But according to figures released by Lonmin on Friday, when bonuses and other allowances are included, the rock drill operators who launched the strike earn an average of 9,813 rand before taxes.

On Friday Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant met with union representatives in Rustenburg, the main city in the platinum belt in the north of the country where police gunned down 34 workers outside Lonmin's Marikana mine more than a week ago.

About 3,000 rock drill operators at the Lonmin mine launched the illegal strike on August 10. It quickly degenerated into clashes with non-strikers.

Ten people including two policemen were killed in the unrest, leading to the crackdown on August 16, when police gunned down 34 armed miners.

Police insist that they used teargas first and only opened fire after miners shot at them. The miners say they were armed only with spears, machetes and clubs.

and news from South Africa on the ongoing strike - Lonmin seems to be waking up to their realization that police shooting aren't a good thing for their Company...

http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Mining/Lonmin-We-need-peace-20120824