Explosion and fire reported at Venezuela’s natural gas pipeline

State oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) has reportedly suffered an explosion and subsequent fire at a tract of a gas pipeline in eastern Venezuela.

In a report seen by Reuters, the company said that on 20 March an explosion occurred at the pipeline, which provides natural gas to the Pigap II gas reinjection plant in northern Monagas.

S&P Global reported Monagas local authorities as saying in statements that the explosion and subsequent fire at the pipeline was the result of gas line rupture at the PIGAP II plant.

The PIGAP II gas reinjection plant helps in production at the PDVSA-operated El Furrial fields while the pipeline serves Spain’s Repsol operations in Quiriquire block.

Repsol has an exploration and exploitation licence for the non-associated gaseous hydrocarbons in the Quiriquire Profundo block.

Following the incident, PDVSA has temporarily closed the plant to douse the flames and assess the pipeline damages.

Venezuelan Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami in a brief statement on state television said that the incident was a ‘terrorist attack’.

Although no injuries were reported, details about who was responsible for the incident or its impact on the gas plant and pipeline were not disclosed by Aissami.

Located in the El Tejero, Monagas state, the PIGAP II project was commissioned in 2001.

Venezuela, an OPEC-member, is claimed to hold massive crude and natural gas reserves.

However, the country’s output plunged in recent years due to economic collapse. This also resulted in reduced cash flow for PDVSA.