The Minister of Interior Relations and Justice, Remigio Ceballos, said that a fire at the El Palito refinery, in the north-central part of the country, which was caused by an electrical storm in the midst of the heavy rains that hit the South American country, was controlled.
The official explained that the fire occurred in a fuel tank after it was struck by lightning, but did not provide further details.
“It has already been fought by firefighters and it has been controlled without incident. Cooling tasks are being carried out at this time,” the minister told state television on Wednesday night.
The incident is the most recent to affect the facilities of the state oil company PDVSA, after another similar fire caused by lightning at the Puerto La Cruz refinery and at a fuel terminal.