Venezuela’s El Palito Refinery Restarts Key Fuel Unit After Earthquake Disruptions

Venezuela has restarted the key fuel-producing unit at its El Palito refinery following disruptions caused by twin earthquakes late last month, marking an important step toward restoring refining operations and maintaining domestic fuel supplies.

Workers at the 146,000-barrel-per-day refinery, located in the country’s central region, said the facility’s fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) has resumed operations after several days of gradual reactivation of refinery units. The FCC is one of the most important components in a refinery, converting heavy oil into gasoline and other motor fuels.

According to four workers familiar with operations, the refinery had been slowly bringing its processing units back online after the earthquakes left the facility without electricity, forcing production to halt.

“The FCC is working and we are trying to boost output,” one refinery worker said, adding that operators needed several attempts before successfully returning the unit to service.

The worker said the FCC is currently processing about 35,000 barrels of crude oil per day, well below its full operating capacity, as technicians continue stabilising production and increasing output.

The restart comes as Venezuelan authorities seek to reassure consumers that fuel supplies remain stable despite the recent natural disasters.

The country’s oil ministry said over the weekend that fuel distribution is being maintained across all regions, with particular attention given to areas affected by the earthquakes, including the coastal state of La Guaira.

While the ministry did not disclose production or distribution volumes, reports from across the country suggest that gasoline supplies remain adequate. Motorists have continued to experience relatively short queues at filling stations, indicating that fuel deliveries have not been significantly disrupted.

The twin earthquakes, which struck in late June, interrupted electricity at the El Palito refinery and affected several public services. However, officials said the country’s broader energy infrastructure escaped major damage.

Oil production and export operations have continued without interruption, helping Venezuela maintain crude shipments despite the temporary refining setback.

The earthquakes had a greater impact on essential services such as electricity and water, which continue to face recovery challenges in several affected regions.

El Palito is Venezuela’s smallest refinery but plays an important role in supplying gasoline and other refined petroleum products to the domestic market. The facility has experienced repeated operational interruptions in recent years because of maintenance issues, equipment failures and power outages.

The latest restart is expected to improve fuel production as refinery operators gradually restore additional processing units. Industry observers will be watching whether El Palito can continue increasing throughput in the coming weeks while supporting the country’s fuel distribution network.

The recovery also highlights Venezuela’s efforts to maintain refining capacity and ensure fuel availability despite ongoing infrastructure challenges and the effects of recent natural disasters.