Puebla Oil Pipeline
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Puebla Oil Pipeline is an oil pipeline in Mexico.[1]
Contents
Location
The pipeline runs from Tabasco to Hidalgo.
Project Details
- Operator: Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex)[1]
- Current capacity:
- Length:
- Status: Operating
- Start Year:
Background
The Puebla oil pipeline has been the subject of numerous illegal tappings and oil theft, including one in 2010 that resulted in an explosion, killing 29 people.
In May 2017, at least 10 people including four soldiers were killed in firefights between the Mexican military and fuel thieves in Puebla state.[2]
2010 Puebla oil pipeline explosion
The 2010 Puebla oil pipeline explosion was a large oil pipeline explosion that occurred at 5:50 am CST[3] on December 19, 2010, in the city of San Martín Texmelucan de Labastida, Puebla, Mexico. The pipeline, running from Tabasco to Hidalgo,[3] was owned by the Pemex petroleum company, and exploded after the Los Zetas drug cartel attempted to siphon off the oil.[4] The gas explosion and resulting oil fire killed 29 people, including 13 children, and injured 52. Some of the flames in the fire became ten metres high, and the smoke towered over the city.[5] The blast also damaged 115 homes, completely destroying 32 of them, and prompted the evacuation of 5,000 residents.[6] Firefighters eventually controlled the blaze, but electricity and water remained cut following the explosions, and the Mexican military was deployed to the site.[3] Mexican President Felipe Calderón visited the explosion site on the day of the incident to offer condolences to the victims' families.[5][7] The fire was one of the deadliest in Mexican history, largely destroying a five-kilometre radius area, and some oil may have polluted the Atoyac River.[8]
The Los Zetas gang, one of the most powerful drug cartels and paramilitary groups involved in the ongoing Mexican Drug War, was blamed for the explosion. Throughout 2010, drug-related conflicts had killed 12,456 people. In 2008, Pemex reported 9.3 billion pesos ($750 million USD) of oil lost to thieves.[3] Previously, nearly 60 illegal tapping incidents occurred near the explosion site. Much of the stolen oil is trafficked to the United States.[9]
Investigation
Felipe Calderón ordered an official investigation into the incident.[3] A hole was found at the pipeline, and several bodies lay near the initial site of the explosion. The cause of the spark that led to the explosion is still unknown.[5] The investigation included an assessment of the environmental impact of the explosion, including the pollution of downstream reservoirs.[10] Mechanical failure was not ruled out as a possible cause of the oil leak despite evidence of theft and tampering.[11] The pipeline was re-opened on December 22, 2010.
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Puebla Oil Pipeline, Wikipedia, accessed September 2017
- ↑ Clashes between soldiers and gasoline smugglers leave 10 dead in Mexico, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Gould, Jens Erik (December 20, 2010). "Mexico Pipeline Blast Kills 28, Blamed on `Criminal Gang' Stealing Fuel". Retrieved on 22 December 2010.
- ↑ Argen, David (December 21, 2010). "Oil: The Mexican cartels’ other deadly business". Retrieved on 22 December 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Más notas de México, AP (19 December 2010). "Explosión de oleoducto devasta gran parte de San Martín Texmelucan" (in Spanish). Retrieved on 22 December 2010.
- ↑ "Mexico pipeline blast toll at 29" (December 22, 2010). Archived from the original on December 30, 2010.
- ↑ "Death toll from pipeline explosion in Mexico reaches 28" (December 20, 2010). Archived from the original on December 23, 2010.
- ↑ Ramirez, Erika (December 21, 2010). "Pipeline explosion blamed on oil thieves". Retrieved on 22 December 2010.
- ↑ "Thieves blamed in Mexico pipeline blast that kills 28" (December 19, 2010). Archived from the original on June 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Investigation continues into deadly Mexico pipeline blast" (December 21, 2010). Archived from the original on July 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Mexico's Pemex Reopens Oil Pipeline After Deadly Sunday Blast" (December 22, 2010). Archived from the original on December 27, 2010.
Related SourceWatch articles
External resources
Wikipedia also has an article on the 2010 Puebla oil pipeline explosion. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.
