Fuel Residue Spill Reported at Dormant José Martí Power Plant in Matanzas

On Thursday morning, a spill involving a non-commercial fuel residue occurred at the dormant José Martí power plant, located in Matanzas province. According to the state-run newspaper Girón's Facebook post, the facility, inactive since 2015, still houses structures containing petroleum-derived materials. The incident specifically took place in one of the storage tanks still present at the site, the report highlighted.

In a further clarification, Girón revealed that the spill comprised crude oil and fuel oil residue contained within two tanks, each with a capacity of about 500 cubic meters, which were part of the plant's operations. Although there had been efforts to relocate this fuel, it remained on-site. The residue is currently contained within a safety basin, with authorities and Fire Brigade Command 2 on-site implementing measures to prevent any damage.

Journalist José Miguel Solís elaborated that the spill was confined by the safety basin, a protective excavation surrounding the tank to prevent the fuel from spreading. Solís reported that specialized teams, along with personnel from the CTE Antonio Guiteras, the entity now owning the site, and CITMA technicians, are engaged in the mitigation and evacuation of the spilled fuel. "The spill dates back to 2015," the journalist noted, describing the incident as a "minor scare, that's all."

The spill at the old José Martí power plant in Matanzas is not an isolated case but part of a series of incidents highlighting environmental vulnerabilities in industrial and port zones of western Cuba. Just this past July, another leak caused an oil spill in Matanzas Bay, attributed to flaws in the pipeline networks from the supertanker base.

Earlier, a toxic substance spill was reported in Cárdenas Bay, with its effects still under investigation by environmental and maritime authorities. This event raised concern among residents over potential harm to the marine ecosystem and public health, showcasing the consequences of poorly maintained industrial infrastructure with minimal environmental oversight.

That same month, a train derailment involving fuel transport was quickly linked to potential environmental hazards due to the cargo. Although authorities ruled out sabotage, the incident underscored deficiencies in industrial safety measures and the transportation of hazardous materials across the country.