Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Mexico’s state oil company, said the fire incident that occurred Friday at the Nohoch Processing Center, resulted in the tragic loss of two lives and one worker reported missing. The Director General of PEMEX, Engineer Octavio Romero Oropeza, provided an update on the situation.
The prompt response of firefighting vessels proved instrumental in preventing the fire from spreading to the other platforms at the Nohoch Processing Center. Out of the five platforms, only one was affected by the accident. Director General Romero Oropeza emphasized that the utmost priority for PEMEX is the safety of its staff and the employees of the companies operating in the area.
Three workers who were injured in the incident are now out of danger. Two of them have already been discharged and are recovering at home. The third worker sustained burns covering 35% of their body and will be transferred to the Central South High Specialty Hospital in Picacho, Mexico City, to receive specialised burn care. However, their lives are no longer at risk.
In addition to the PEMEX personnel, five individuals from a private company also sustained injuries. None of them are in a life-threatening condition. Two workers from the private company lost their lives, and one worker is still missing. Director General Romero Oropeza assured that PEMEX and the affected company will provide full support to all those affected by the incident.
Regarding the impact on production, the Director General explained that the incident will result in a reduction of several thousand barrels of crude oil equivalent, including both oil and gas. However, PEMEX is determined to swiftly restore production through well-defined strategies. Efforts will be made to minimise downtime at the processing center. Director General Romero Oropeza confirmed that the fire has been successfully controlled, and investigations will be conducted to determine the root cause.