Oil spill: Peru declares environmental emergency hoping to make Repsol bend

This satellite image shows oil slicks near Bahia Blanca beach in Ventanilla, Peru on January 19, 2022. Thousands of barrels of crude oil that were spilled off Peru's central coast have taken their toll: dead birds drifting in the sea and angry fishermen stuck on the docks.

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Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Eight days after the oil spill in Peru, the Peruvian authorities declared an environmental emergency in the Lima region, where 6,000 barrels of crude oil were spilled.

In the crosshairs of the government the company Repsol, owner of the refinery at the origin of the disaster. 

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By declaring an environmental emergency, the Peruvian authorities hope to make Repsol bend.

According to the text, the Spanish company must support an immediate action plan to limit the damage of the oil spill that is ravaging the coasts of the Lima region.

"

", "

", " 

": these are the missions that the government wants to impose on Repsol.

Authorities suspect negligence on the part of refinery personnel.

They do not believe for a second in the company's version, according to which the accident was due to high tides caused by the volcanic eruption in the Tonga Islands. 

As a sign of goodwill, the company has nevertheless deployed personnel and equipment on the contaminated beaches: according to it, 1,350 people are currently mobilized on the ground. 

And for good reason, there is urgency: the oil spill should not stop there.

According to the authorities, it follows the sea current and moves towards the North. 

Two protected natural areas are threatened. 

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• Environment

• Peru