An Iranian engineer suspected of causing an oil spill at one of Venezuela's main refineries in November helped the country's socialist government cover up the incident, Argentine news agency Infobae reported. revealed Tuesday.
According to information gathered by Infobae, the oil spill occurred at Venezuela's Amuay refinery in the northwestern state of Falcón in November and was caused by a “significant leak” in one of the refinery's tanks. Infobae said the Venezuelan government tried to keep the spill “absolutely secret” until mid-November, and that Iranian personnel already working at the refinery “initially had to respond quickly to the spill.” pointed out.
Infobae stressed that Iran, which enjoys growing influence in Venezuela, tends to act as a “shadow partner” for Caracas due to oil sanctions imposed on the rogue Islamic regime. Iranian employees are routinely seen at Venezuelan refineries, but the regime is looking to them “as saviors” because “this time they were even directly responsible for the spill,” the newspaper said. added.
Amuay is part of the Paraguana Refining Center, Venezuela's largest and one of the world's leading refineries. maximum. As with other Venezuelan refineries, decades of socialist mismanagement have reduced Amuay to near ruin. in 2012a massive gas explosion occurred in Amuay, killing 48 people and injuring more than 100.
Due to mismanagement of Venezuelan refineries by socialists, frequently an oil spill that caused serious damage to the country's environment; fauna. Frequent oil spills are often difficult to fully assess due to dictator President Nicolas Maduro's intense censorship. The local journalist condemned Venezuelan law enforcement officials reportedly forced him to delete previously leaked photos and videos.
Some of the areas affected by the spill include areas affected by a major spill in 2016. 2020experts say it could take at least 50 years to fully recover. evaluation.
In recent years, Maduro's government has sought help from Iran, one of its key allies and a compatriot in anti-American ideology, to repair Venezuela's oil refineries. The two administrations signed a contract worth approximately $107 million. 2022 To have Iranian workers repair El Palito, another dilapidated refinery in Venezuela. After repairs are completed in October 2022, Iran will reportedly The company has begun refining more than 100,000 barrels of its own oil at El Palito.
Infobae has listed several people associated with socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro and his top officials allegedly involved in covering up Iran's Amuai oil spill. Among them is Maduro's top money launderer and new industry minister, Alex Saab. The serve is released He was then sent back to Caracas by the outgoing administration of U.S. President Joe Biden as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with the Maduro regime. At the time of his release, Mr. Saab was on trial in a U.S. court for using the U.S. financial system to launder $350 million from Venezuela's national treasury.
According to For the Biden administration, Saab's release will help curb the large-scale influx of Venezuelan migrants into the United States by addressing the “root causes of migration.”
The paper also listed Jorge Jiménez Ochoa, the current president of Venezuela's national soccer federation, as a person with ties to the socialist regime who was familiar with the cover-up. Infobae described Jiménez, a dual citizen of Venezuela and Spain, as one of the socialist regime's most powerful figures and a frontman for Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.
The outlet also reported that Jimenez involved The charges lie in an ongoing corruption investigation launched by Spanish authorities last year. place an order Censorship of anti-regime banners and messages at soccer matches in Venezuela.
According to Infobae, Hector Obregon Pérez, head of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, has also been named as one of those involved in the cover-up.
The newspaper reported that the people on the list and Vice President Rodríguez are working with Hodjat Soltani, Iran's ambassador to Caracas, who “coordinates all Iranian movements within Venezuelan territory, including technology, oil, communications, and defence,” and “a permanent He said he has been in contact with the company. Soltani centralizes all requirements in his office, and dozens of senior administration officials visit him.
Infobae said senior Maduro government officials are concerned that a larger spill “could involve litigation and cause greater environmental damage.”
“Soltani has more and more power. And of course he will be there on January 10 this year to celebrate Maduro. [who is slated to be inaugurated for a new illegitimate term on that day]” an anonymous internal source at the Miraflores presidential palace told Infobae. “At this point I don't know if he will do it.” [the oath] Before the Bolivarian Constitution and the Iranian Constitution. ”
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
