Curacao-based Isla refinery operates at one third of full capacity

Curacao-based Isla oil refinery, operated by Venezuelan state-run oil company Pdvsa, has increased operations to one third of its full capacity after its fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) was restarted, Ángelo Meier, the president of the company's labor union, told Reuters.

To restart the unit, it was necessary to close other areas and direct the limited supply of utilities -water, steam, and electricity- towards the fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU).

"The FCCU has restarted, but the refinery is working at one third of its full capacity while we seek a solution to the supply of utilities," the president of the company's labor union said.

Isla's full capacity is 335,000 oil barrels per day (bpd). The refinery has a vast storage capacity, but it has been running at low levels over the last few years due to limited supply of industrial services

Translated by Jhean Cabrera