The government of Peru has reported that an oil spill at a refinery in Peru, triggered by a volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga last weekend, has resulted in an “ecological disaster.”
The Peruvian government has dispatched forces to clean up the coastline following the oil spill incident. (Photo: Reuters)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru stated that the oil spill has harmed the flora and fauna in protected areas covering approximately 18,000 km2 around the country’s islands.
The spill originated from an oil tanker unloading at the La Pampilla refinery operated by the Spanish oil company Repsol, reportedly caused by unusually high waves following a major underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga, located about 10,000 km away, which generated a tsunami.
The Peruvian government has also called on Repsol to cover the costs associated with the oil spill incident.
“This is the worst ecological disaster to occur around the province of Lima in recent times and has severely impacted hundreds of fishing families. Repsol must immediately compensate for the damages,” affirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru.
Peruvian prosecutors have launched an investigation into one of Repsol’s companies following the spill. Peru’s Minister of Environment, Ruben Ramirez, met with Repsol officials and stated that approximately 6,000 barrels of oil had been spilled.
The Peruvian Energy and Mining Investment Supervisory Agency (Osinergmin) announced that it has ordered the closure of one of the four ports at the refinery until the cause of the oil spill is determined.
