The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced that his country will help Cuba build the patio of a new supertanker in the city of Matanzas (west), after the fire that affected the crude oil storage base on the island.
“Mr. Minister of Petroleum, Tareck [El Aissami]; get in touch with the Cuban oil and energy authorities to begin the design of the reconstruction of the supertanker yard there in Matanzas again. That will be the work of union between Cuba and Venezuela, and hopefully Mexico and other investors join in, we are going to design where it would be done and start construction of a new supertanker,” the president said in a speech.
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Likewise, Maduro declared that Cuba is not alone and reiterated his support for the largest of the Antilles, after acknowledging the work of the Venezuelan delegation that participated in the fight against the fire in Matanzas.
“Because Cuba has to know [Cuba’s ambassador to Venezuela] Dagoberto [Rodríguez], under no circumstances is Cuba alone, nor will it be alone, Cuba will have the support of the peoples of the world and sensitive, brave, humanist governments. Cuba will not she is, nor will she ever be alone,” the president said during a broadcast on the state-owned channel Venezolana de Televisión.
From the Miraflores Palace (presidential headquarters), Maduro recognized the Venezuelan delegation that participated in the work of extinguishing the fire. “You have been brave patriots and have fulfilled the mission that was given to you to support the Cuban people in this emergency that alarmed so many in the world,” he said.
At the same time, the president thanked his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Díaz-Canel, for the coordination that was established with the Venezuelan personnel.
In his speech, Maduro also highlighted the solidarity of the Mexican Government, and reiterated its scientific, technical and engineering support, to help Cuba in the reconstruction of the supertanker affected by the fire.
Maduro assured that Cuba has all the scientific, technical, engineering, and worker support of Venezuela. The Government supported Cuba by sending a delegation made up of 43 firefighters from the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela.
The incident, which occurred on August 5, caused the death of two people, more than 120 injured and 14 missing, according to preliminary figures. The fire destroyed four oil tanks at a super tanker base located in Matanzas, as confirmed by the island’s foreign ministry.