Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported a small fire at the Olmeca Refinery in Dos Bocas, Tabasco, on January 22, 2026. The incident stemmed from a loss of containment in a discharge line and was contained without harm to personnel, the environment, or the community. The refinery continues to operate normally and safely.
On January 22, 2026, Pemex activated its Emergency Response Plan after detecting a small fire in a processing plant within the Olmeca Refinery, located in Puerto de Paraíso, Tabasco. The incident originated from a loss of containment in a discharge line, sparking the minor blaze. Specialized personnel intervened immediately to bring the plant to a safe condition and eliminate risks in the affected area.
"It is important to highlight that there were no impacts to personnel, the environment, or the community, and the Olmeca Refinery is operating normally, stably, and safely," the state-owned company reported. Pemex, led by Víctor Rodríguez, stressed its safety commitment: "Pemex reiterates its commitment to promptly address incidents, implementing strict safety standards to protect its workers and the social environment."
This marks the third similar incident at Mexico's newest refinery. According to Pemex's 2024 Sustainability Report, there were at least two prior small fires: one involving a flood and fire in adjacent streets, and another in a reformer unit aimed at improving gasoline quality. Additionally, the refinery has seen three fatalities from accidents: on August 10, 2024, two workers died in a vehicle fire inside the facility; and on September 28, 2024, one worker was injured and another died from toxic gas exposure on tank TV-904001.
Another notable event took place on April 30, 2025, when a refinery shutdown resulted from a communication failure in the CCS-17 cogeneration plant, leading to a general steam failure and a safe halt of operations. These incidents underscore the operational challenges at Dos Bocas, though Pemex maintains its safety protocols.
