Repsol maintains that Ventanilla beaches are suitable for fishing, despite Imarpe stating the opposite

Repsol has expressed its disagreement with the ratification of the Ministry of Health (Minsa) on the warning to avoid access to the 25 beaches that are still affected by the oil spill of January 15, 2022 in the Ventanilla Sea, an event that represents one of the largest environmental disasters in Peruvian history when thousands of barrels of oil spilled in this area near the La Pampilla (Relapasaa) refinery

The oil company has expressed that it considers this warning to be “inaccurate information.” In addition, he maintains that both the sea and the beaches in the area have met national and international quality standards for months, allowing the reactivation of activities such as fishing and recreation.

Repsol highlighted eight official reports issued by the Environmental Assessment and Supervision Agency (OEFA) and three reports from the National Water Authority (ANA), which support the adequate conditions of the sea in the affected area, and claims to have allocated more than S/ 1,000 million for cleaning, remediation and social compensation work.

However, the Minsa warning, supported by the General Directorate of Environmental Health and Food Safety (Digesa), confirmed that the damage continues and urged the authorities of the affected districts to take measures to prevent bathers from going to these beaches during the 2024 summer season.. Despite the evaluations, 25 beaches are still considered unsuitable for use.

In addition, he reported that the necessary conditions to resume artisanal fishing have not yet been recovered. “There is no conclusive evidence to indicate that the area affected by the spill is free of oil,” noted the Peruvian Marine Institute (Imarpe) based on an evaluation in June.

They also recalled that according to environmental studies between March and October 2022, the first response actions carried out by Repsol were not efficient to mitigate the effects of the spill.