An oil spill near Guiteras triggers alarm in Matanzas.

A fuel oil spill in the industrial zone of Matanzas has generated concern.cupaction among the population and forced rapid mobilization of firefighters, due to the risk of environmental and technological disaster.

The incident occurred on the morning of May 22, when a leak was detected in one of the fuel storage tanks that had been out of use for almost a decade. The José Martí plant, which has been out of operation since 2015, still contains two tanks, each approximately 500 cubic meters, containing crude oil and fuel oil residue that were never removed.

According to Román Pérez Castañeda, technical director of the Antonio Guiteras CTE, the spill was caused by a possible failure in the tank structure or in the access pipes, which caused the waste to spill into the containment tank, a structure designed to prevent the liquid from spreading.

Environmental risk under surveillance

So far, the reservoir has contained the spill, but authorities have launched an emergency operation to suction up the spilled crude, inspect the pumping systems, and minimize any risk of fire or further contamination.

In addition to the tanker trucks, a specialized truck was added that injects steam into the crude oil to reduce its viscosity and facilitate extraction. As an additional measure, rock material has been placed around the affected area, creating a second physical barrier, and surveillance is ongoing for possible leaks into Matanzas Bay.

Citizen criticism for accumulated negligence

The incident has sparked a wave of criticism on social media. Many citizens have questioned the lack of preventive action by the State, which has failed to remove highly hazardous waste for almost ten years. "What did they expect, for it to explode?" reads one of the comments accusing the authorities of negligence, neglect, and institutional disregard.

Many recall the 2022 explosion at the Matanzas Supertanker Base and demand accountability for the recurrence of security failures at critical energy facilities.

A latent threat in the midst of the energy crisis

The former José Martí plant was once a pioneer in using domestic crude oil and was once considered one of the most reliable in the National Electric Power System. However, its neglect has turned its tanks into a ticking time bomb, without proper monitoring.

In the midst of a serious national energy crisis, with prolonged blackouts and collapsed thermoelectric plants, the spill of this forgotten fuel not only adds a new concerncupenvironmental action, but also once again highlights the structural failures in management and control of key energy infrastructure in Cuba.