Mechanical failure at Venezuelan refinery temporarily disrupts gasoline production

www.sfgate.com Tuesday, March 11, 2003
(03-11) 10:21 PST CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) --

A mechanical failure will disrupt gasoline production at a Venezuelan refinery for at least two days, the refinery's manager said Tuesday.

The failure Tuesday forced the shutdown of the catalytic cracker, the main gasoline producing unit at El Palito refinery in western Venezuela, Asdrubal Chavez told local Union Radio.

Chavez said the problem should be fixed within 48 hours. El Palito has 20 days worth of stocks and the failure won't affect supply, he added. The cracker produces 60,000 barrels of gasoline a day, Chavez said.

Venezuela is trying to recover from a two-month general strike to demand early elections or the resignation of President Hugo Chavez. The strike ended last month.

Venezuela, which was the world's fifth-largest oil exporter before the strike, is still having to import gasoline to because of difficulties bringing refineries back online.