The fire in the gas pipeline system of the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) in Monagas was due to sabotage that consisted of misaligning the pressure systems to cause the explosion, the Oil Minister, Tareck El Aissami, denounced on Tuesday.
The oil minister stated that it was an event caused because the gas pipeline is made up of complex systems, and there was no “type of warning that could anticipate” the fire, which was registered on saturday at night and reached heights of over 100 meters.
After the investigations, El Aissami indicated, it was possible to locate a cambuche (improvised dwelling) located 150 meters from the place where the events occurred, finding “materials that are part of the chain of custody for the investigation” to find “those responsible who provoked this attack.
He stressed that among the materials obtained are two studs that belong to the pressure valves of the gas pipeline, located in the Agua y Sal sector. Cables stolen from the warehouses and other materials that may be associated with the event were also found.
«They are the ones used for the pressure valves of those gas pipelines. The criminal minds misaligned the pressure control system to cause the leak », he said from the site, in a VTV broadcast.
He stated that “the investigation will continue to be deepened” after the relevant finding, since it will allow “conducting the line of investigation.”
“A few hours after the explosion occurred, I want to report that we are already restoring operations, repairing the sections impacted by the attack,” he said.
For this reason, he indicated that in a few hours the methane gas service will be restored to the industrial sector of Venezuela.
He maintained that they maintain permanent communication with the Public Ministry (MP) to find the whereabouts of those involved.
El Aissami recognized the work of the state firefighters for fighting the flames and putting out the fire.
