By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 5 -- An electrical system failure caused an operational shutdown Mar. 31 at Petróleos de Venezuela SA's Amuay refinery.
The refinery is a major part of the 940,000 b/d Paraguaná Refining Center (CRP) in western Venezuela.
Alejandro Granado, vice-president of PDVSA refining, said the shutdown was caused by a breakdown in the supply system to steam-generation boilers, which resulted in disturbances to the electricity generation system. The disturbances affected output of industrial services (steam, water, nitrogen, and electric power) at Amuay and caused shutdown of the processing units. Officials reported no damage to personal, installations, or the environment.
The refinery's management immediately activated a safe start-up plan together with the CRP emergency and contingency plan.
"The continued supply of fuel to domestic and international markets remains guaranteed," Granado said. "There are sufficient product inventories in the fuel distribution systems, as well as in the various refineries, terminals, and storage installations throughout Venezuela."
