March 27, 2026

PDVSA contains two oil spills near Cardón refinery, according to Reuters

Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA, has deployed containment teams to deal with two oil spills near its Cardón refinery on the country's north coast, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters, while local fishermen reported the presence of crude oil in the Gulf of Coro. By Reuters The first spill began on Wednesday night in the Carirubana municipality, near the Cardón refining complex in Punta Cardón, according to a PDVSA document. The leak caused a moderate spill from the LOL pipeline, and a containment team was deployed. Additionally, pumping was ordered to stop to prevent further environmental damage. The second spill was reported on Thursday morning in the Miranda municipality, on the other side of the Gulf of Coro from Cardón. It also caused moderate damage and originated from the same LOL pipeline, according to another document. PDVSA did not respond to a request for comments, and the size of the spills is unclear. Groups of local fishermen indicated that they are in contact with the company about the spills and shared photos and videos with Reuters. The images show black crude oil coming out of a pipeline, spreading over the ground and on the surface of the water in the gulf, although Reuters could not verify that material. Venezuela's deteriorating oil infrastructure has been a source of spills and environmental damage for years, and these recent incidents highlight the continued impact of underinvestment.