A photographer from the Girón Newspaper in Matanzas openly challenged the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) on Saturday by directly commenting on the Facebook post where the ministry refuted the local state media's report about a fire at the Matanzas Super Tanker Base.
Raúl Navarro González, the photographer and director of Audiovisuals at Girón, demanded an apology for the newspaper's staff and provided a technical argument that what transpired was indeed a genuine fire, not merely a smoke episode as claimed by the ministry.
On Friday, September 11, Girón reported on Facebook that during maintenance work on an empty tank at the base, "an accident occurred, causing a fire that was controlled by the Fire Brigade and other cooperatives from the Ministry of the Interior and other organizations," and that "the incident posed no risk of spreading, nor any danger to nearby residents."
Hours later, MINEM contradicted the state media's account with a note on the same social media platform: "Regarding the fire report in one of the tanks at the Super Tanker Base, we clarify that there was no such fire. During maintenance activities on the tank, sulfur accumulated on the surface caused smoke that was quickly subdued."
Nevertheless, CUPET, in an expanded note, acknowledged that during maintenance, when oxy-fuel cutting is used to remove the roof, sulfur can ignite, though it did not explicitly admit that a fire occurred.
A Technical Rebuttal from Navarro
It was precisely on MINEM's official post where Navarro responded with a detailed technical comment. "It's very easy to undermine the work of an entire team like the one at Girón Newspaper in Matanzas with just a simple post," the photographer wrote.
His main argument was that sulfur combustion does not result in just smoke but a real fire: "Sulfur in contact with welding or any ignition source will cause a fire, not just smoke."
Navarro elaborated that when sulfur ignites, "it produces a blue flame and generates sulfur dioxide (SO₂), a toxic and suffocating gas," and that "the white or gray smoke observed is the result of real combustion with dangerous gas emissions."
The reporter also provided precise technical data: sulfur's autoignition temperature is approximately 232°C, though fine dust can ignite at 207°C; dispersed sulfur dust in the air can form explosive mixtures with a lower explosivity limit of about 35 g/m³; and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) classifies operations with flames or sparks near sulfur as "hot work," requiring special permits.
His conclusion was clear: "Since they wanted to downplay the issue, putting us in a tough spot as liars, please address the following statement. I demand an apology for our team."
Internal Tensions in Cuban State Media
This incident reveals an unusual internal tension within the Cuban official press: a local state media outlet was publicly contradicted by the national energy authorities, and one of its journalists demanded an apology from the ministry on its Facebook page.
The episode unfolds in a highly sensitive context. The Super Tanker Base is Cuba's largest oil storage facility and was the site of the country's worst industrial disaster in recent history: on August 5, 2022, a lightning strike triggered a fire that destroyed four of the eight tanks, resulting in 17 deaths, over 140 injuries, and estimated losses of $66 million.
The facility has been under reconstruction by Cuban and Chinese teams since then. Meanwhile, Cuba faces a severe energy crisis with prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages, making any news regarding this base highly impactful for the population.
Understanding the Fire Incident at Matanzas Super Tanker Base
What was the dispute between Girón Newspaper and MINEM about?
The dispute arose when MINEM refuted Girón Newspaper's report of a fire at the Matanzas Super Tanker Base, claiming it was merely smoke from sulfur combustion. Girón's photographer insisted it was a real fire and demanded an apology.
Why is the Matanzas Super Tanker Base significant?
The Matanzas Super Tanker Base is the largest oil storage facility in Cuba and was the site of a major industrial disaster in 2022, making it a focal point in the country's ongoing energy crisis.