It has been more than a month since Peru experienced the worst ecological disaster in recent history and the clean-up is still ongoing.
On January 15, 2022 around 10,000 barrels of crude oil was accidently released into the Pacific Ocean during a routine tanker discharge. Thousands of animals have been covered in oil. Many have died as a result of the spill. The oil slick has covered 25 beaches, polluted three protected marine reserves, and now covers 40 square miles.
Repsol, the Spanish energy company that is responsible for the spill, is being accused of reacting late and not having a contingency plan in place in the event of an oil spill. The company estimates the clean up will cost $65 million.
The country’s foreign ministry is demanding Respsol “immediately compensate” for the damage caused by the spill. The incident has inflicted “serious harm to hundreds of fishermen’s families” and had “put in danger the flora and fauna” in two protected natural areas. Repsol has already paid more than $400,000 in environmental fines but more are expected.
Oil spill at sea: who will pay for Peru’s worst environmental disaster?
