Attacks on Mexico pipelines show extensive knowledge of energy infrastructure

Posted on Tue, Jul. 24, 2007
By KEVIN G. HALL
McClatchy Newspapers

Not only were oil and natural gas pipelines made targets, but also the bombers knew enough about energy installations to destroy the shutoff valves along several pipelines that allow for the wide national distribution of oil and natural gas.

“These are massive steel valves,” a U.S. official familiar with the bombing investigation told McClatchy Newspapers. “These are major, very expensive shutoff valves that control the flow of all this petroleum (and natural gas). This wasn’t a round tube in the middle of nowhere.”

The bombers knew which side of the valve they should strike, ensuring that crude oil did not flow to a nearby refinery and that natural gas did not flow to foreign and Mexican manufacturers in the central Bajio region, the official said.

Other U.S. officials corroborated the story.

In two communiques late last week, the Ejercito Popular Revolucionario (Popular Revolutionary Army) again claimed responsibility for the attacks and defended its decision to strike the state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos. It called the July 5 and July 10 pipeline bombings self-defense and demanded the release of two missing members.

Mexico’s investigation into the explosions has largely been kept secret, and Mexican media accounts have been rife with conflicting information.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/203823.html