Venezuela restarts FCCU at El Palito refinery

El Palito refinery has restarted its fluid catalytic cracking unit and is processing about 35,000 bpd, aiding fuel distribution after recent earthquakes.

Venezuela's smallest refinery, the 146,000-bpd El Palito in the country's central region, has restarted its fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU), key for producing motor fuel, four workers said recently. The refinery has been reactivating its operational units slowly in recent days, following twin earthquakes in late June that had left the facility without power. "The FCC is working and we are trying to boost (output)," one of the workers said, adding that the unit required several attempts to have it in service, and is now processing some 35,000 bpd.

What is next after the restart The country's oil ministry said on the weekend fuel supply was guaranteed in all regions, especially in zones affected by the quakes including coastal La Guaira state. The ministry did not elaborate on volumes, but lines for gasoline in front of stations have remained short, signaling enough distribution. The quakes did not cause large damages to the OPEC country's vast energy infrastructure, which has allowed uninterrupted oil production and exports, but power and water supply remain the most affected public services.