Thread: Oil theft at Pemex pipeline in Mexico kills four

Sat May 13, 2017 | 3:31pm EDT
Suspected oil theft at Pemex pipeline in Mexico kills four: company

Suspected oil thieves caused a fire that killed four people at a Pemex pipeline in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, forcing the state oil company to suspend pressure in the pipeline, Pemex said on Saturday.

It added that the fire was brought under control and none of the four charred bodies found alongside a car at the pipeline were those of Pemex workers.

The pipeline transports oil from Pemex's Minatitlan refinery to Mexico City.

The incident, near the town of El Mango, comes about a week after at least four soldiers and six suspected oil thieves died in a battle in the Mexican state of Puebla.
Fuel siphoning is a growing problem for the oil-producing nation, and the army has launched an operation against organized criminal groups behind it.

"Specialized personnel are carrying out the work for the elimination of this clandestine theft," Pemex said in a statement.

Pemex has said it is losing a record 27,000 barrels per day of gasoline and diesel to criminal gangs, which have increased attempts to steal oil.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pe...KBN1890SG?il=0

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