On Sunday, Syrian official media reported that the authorities managed to extinguish a fire that broke out at the main oil refinery in Homs, western Syria.
The Syrian News Agency (SANA) quoted the Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Bassam Tohme as saying that a leak that occurred during the transportation of crude oil between two towers was the cause of the fire.
Where the oil is heated about 350 degrees before entering the distillation tower, and as a result of its high temperature, its leakage to the outside and the hotness of the pump body, the ignition occurred.
The Minister of Oil indicated that the Homs refinery has not stopped working, as it contains 3 distillation units other than Unit 100 (in which the fire broke out) that are completely independent of it.
State television showed live footage of flames engulfing parts of the refinery, as plumes of black smoke rose as firefighters battled the blaze.
The Syrian Oil Minister confirmed that the Homs oil refinery did not stop working despite the outbreak of the fire (Reuters)
Homs witnessed a fire and an explosion last January, which included a nearby loading station for crude oil and dozens of trucks transporting petroleum products across the country.
The Homs refinery and another in Baniyas - on the Mediterranean coast - have faced a supply shortage in the past few months due to irregular supply of Iranian crude oil to Syria, which is subject to sanctions and relies mainly on Tehran for its energy needs.
During the past two years, Syrians have suffered from a shortage of petrol and fuel for months, forcing the authorities to legalize the supplies they distribute in the areas under their control and to implement sharp price increases.