Pemex reports refinery fire scare in Salina Cruz, says it was contained in six minutes

Pemex reported a small fire in the Alto Vacío 1 area of Primary Plant 1 at the Salina Cruz refinery, saying firefighters extinguished the flames in less than six minutes.

The incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. during the planned shutdown of the plant for maintenance. According to a Pemex statement, a pore developed in the coil of the H-201-B heater cell, triggering the fire.

The refinery’s emergency crews immediately applied operating procedures and put out the flames. Pemex said the incident posed no risk to the facility’s operation or personnel, and that the refinery remained in service. No injuries were reported.

The company, led by Juan Carlos Carpio Fragoso, urged the public to rely on its official communication channels and avoid spreading unverified information. The incident was not the first at the refinery this year. In May, Pemex reported a fire at the Hidros 2 plant during work to bring cooling tower TE-05 into operation. That fire was controlled by specialized crews and injured six people, including three Pemex workers and three employees of an outside company.

Salina Cruz is the largest fuel-producing refinery among Mexico’s seven national refining facilities. It averaged 262,000 barrels per day in July 2026, according to the article.

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Pemex invites citizens to consult official communication channels to stay informed with verified data and help prevent the spread of inaccurate information.