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Chinese specialist brigades installed the dome of fuel tank 49-1, the first of four currently under construction at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, where in 2022 the fire that claimed 17 lives occurred.
According to the post on X by the regime of Havana, the project, carried out collaboratively between Cuban and Chinese specialists, is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.
Official visit and regime propaganda
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz toured the facilities and praised the workers' efforts despite the energy crisis the country is facing.
The communist government emphasized the "cooperation with China" and the progress in the arrangements, without mentioning the structural issues that persist in the country's energy infrastructure following the disaster.
According to the newspaper Girón on Facebook, engineer Héctor Clark Silot, the technical chief of the Integrated Project Management (DIP), stated that this operation marks a milestone due to the speed of progress made: from March until the installation of the aluminum dome, which measures 74 meters in diameter and weighs 68 tons.
The tank will have a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters of crude oil and will continue its construction phase with the installation of automatic systems, fire protection systems, fittings, piping, and hydraulic testing.
Recovery after the 2022 fire
The construction of four storage tanks —49-1, 86, 87, and 88— aims to restore the storage capacity of the terminal, which was severely impacted by the large fire in August 2022. According to projections, the new tanks will add a total volume of 200,000 cubic meters.
A country that does not forget… nor forgive
The fire, caused by a lightning strike that hit a tank containing 40 thousand gallons of fuel, spread for six days. Firefighters, tank truck drivers, and civilian workers lost their lives. Most of the bodies were unrecognizable due to the intensity of the blaze. Hundreds were hospitalized, and an entire community was displaced.
The government's response was slow and opaque. The extinguishing of the fire was celebrated as a heroic act, but the conditions that made it possible—obsolete infrastructure, lack of protocols, improvisation, and negligence in decision-making—were never publicly discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Reconstruction of the Matanzas Supertanker Base
What progress has been made in the reconstruction of the Supertankers Base in Matanzas?
Chinese and Cuban specialist brigades have completed the installation of the dome for fuel tank 49-1, the first of four tanks being constructed to restore the storage capacity of the terminal. The project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026. The four new tanks will provide a total volume of 200 thousand cubic meters.
What was the cause of the fire at the Supertanker Base in Matanzas in 2022?
The fire was caused by a lightning strike that hit a tank full of crude oil, resulting in a series of explosions that devastated the infrastructure. The fire resulted in the death of 17 people and left dozens injured. The tragedy also highlighted the deficiencies in the infrastructure and the lack of adequate safety protocols.
What security measures are being implemented in the new tanks in Matanzas?
To increase safety, retention basins are being constructed, greater spacing between tanks is being implemented, and modern lightning protection systems will be installed. These measures aim to prevent a disaster similar to that of 2022 from occurring again. Additionally, improvements are being made to access points and the perimeter fencing.
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