PETROPERÚ contained spilled crude oil which did not reach the Urituyacu River in Loreto

Regarding journalistic versions of alleged oil contamination in the Urituyacu River from the intentional cut at Km 59 of the North Peruvian Pipeline (ONP), PETROPERÚ explains that the spilled crude was contained in the containment channel that protects the ONP and did not reach the aforementioned River.

In this regard, the Agency for Environmental Assessment and Enforcement (OEFA) carried out an inspection at the scene of the events from January 24 to 27, issuing a supervision report which indicates that "it was verified that the crude oil spilled affected the margins of the flotation channel at KM 59+131, due to the pumping pressure that was working to transport the crude from Station 1 to Station 5 [of the ONP]”.

It should be noted that the flotation channel (or containment channel) is an artificial body of water that houses the pipeline and has been built precisely to contain the crude in the event of a leak. The contingency occurred on January 20, near the Nueva Alianza community, located in the Urarinas district, Loreto region.

The OEFA minutes also state that “in the affected section between the flotation channel and part of the Infiernillo creek, the administrator [PETROPERÚ] has placed mechanical and oleophilic barriers as well as artisanal barriers with the application of Oclansorb, especially at the point of mouth, in which two mechanical barriers and two oleophilic barriers were installed to prevent dispersion towards the Urituyacu River. It should be noted that during the inspection no signs of the presence of oil or oily substances were observed in the course of the waters of the Urituyacu River”.

Consequently, PETROPERÚ guarantees that the hydrocarbon leak was controlled from the beginning of the attention work to this environmental contingency, which will continue until the final repair of the pipeline and the subsequent remediation of the area.

PETROPERÚ urges the population to contribute to the authorities that investigate these acts of vandalism to find those responsible, since these not only harm the state-owned company, but also the community and harm the activity of the industry in the area; since the Pipeline, with its transportation activity, enhances the value of the oil reserve of the northern jungle and –with this– makes the canon viable in favor of the producing regions.

From 2014 to date, PETROPERÚ has dealt with 59 contingencies in the ONP, of which 76% correspond to acts of third parties, such as pipeline cuts and drilling to steal crude oil carried out in criminal acts. Attention to these contingencies, which considers the repair of the pipeline and the cleaning and remediation of the affected area, has exceeded 300 million soles.

In this sense, PETROPERÚ calls for the cessation of these attacks that affect the infrastructure of a critical national asset of great importance for the development of the country, the environment and the native communities of our Amazon.