Iran President Condoles Venezuelan Counterpart On Refinery Mishap

Tehran, Aug 27, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condoled his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez on the sad occasion of a deadly blast in Venezuela's biggest gas refinery that resulted in death and injury of several Venezuelans. Part of President Ahmadinejad's message of condolence reads, the news of the blast in your country's biggest gas refinery which resulted in death and injury of several of our compatriots was saddening and regrettable. An explosion tore in Amuay refinery, Venezuela's biggest refinery, on Saturday killed 39 people and wounded dozens more, halting operations at the facility in the worst accident to hit the OPEC nation's oil industry. Venezuela's Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez told Reuters no production units at the Amuay refinery were affected and that there were no plans to halt exports, a sign that the incident will likely have little impact on fuel prices./end