Petroecuador has excluded responsibility for oil pollution which exists in the water channel sector of Punta Carnero. He reported that the La Libertad refinery has no facilities in the Punta Carnero, in the province of Santa Elena. He also explained that the refinery is geographically far from the area, which he categorically denied that there was any kind of contamination by the public company.

Environmental authorities are aware of the issue, Petroecuador said.

This is followed by a statement from Petroecuador A few days ago, the mayors of Salinas and La Libertada, Dennis Córdova and Francisco Tamariz, toured the Punta Carnero sector and will show the environmental pollution generated by oil at that location. Córdova said that this abnormal situation also extends to the Carolina and Petrópolis sectors.

In this regard, he requested solutions from the Ministry of Energy, Environmental Protection and the companies Petroecuador and Pacipetrol. Mayor Córdova clarified that they are not saying that these entities are responsible for the problem, but that a road plan must be drawn up to solve it.

Although the exact origin of the pollution is not known, it is apparently environmental damage from oil operations, with already closed wells, from which it emerges.

The concern of the sectional authorities is that pollution could cause diseases in the population, including cancer. In addition, they warned that there is a risk that with the rains of the El Niño phenomenon, these polluted waters could reach the sea or affect the production activity of the area.

In the meantime, The Energy Regulatory and Control Agency (ARC) reported that it has first-hand knowledge that the problems stemmed from natural outcrops. On these days, meetings will be held to determine jurisdiction in the case of cleaning and rehabilitation.