Oil workers say the gushing crude soiling the coast of Falcón state this month came from a cracked underwater pipeline linked to attempts to restart fuel production at the aging Cardón refinery. Not far from the oil slick, fisherman say, is a jetting geyser of natural gas from a second broken pipeline. Particularly in recent years, a lack of spare parts, a brain drain of technicians and widespread corruption have crippled oil production and fuel refineries, making environmental accidents more common. ADADThe U.S. embargo on Venezuelan oil has deepened the industry’s woes. Do your own inspection.”PDVSA confirmed the most recent oil spill, near its Cardón refinery.

Source: Washington Post September 24, 2020 10:06 UTC