Loreto: second attack against Petroperú’s Norperuano Pipeline in less than a month

Petroperú reported a second attack against the Norperuano Pipeline – ONP in less than a month, this time on Section I, in the Urarinas district, of the Loreto province and region.

According to the report of the state oil company, on the night of last Thursday, January 20, 2022, there was knowledge of an oil leak at kilometer 59 + 131 of the ONP. At the scene, at 2:30 a.m. on January 21, patrol personnel verified that the oil leak was caused by an “intentional cut.”

“This fact constitutes a criminal act with subordinate interests, caused by unscrupulous people who only seek to harm the first national company,” said the company.

As part of the contingency plan, Petroperú proceeded to stop the pumping of Section I of the ONP, which had been in activity since January 8.

With this, the crude oil returned to the Station 1 tanks to relieve pressure in the sector. The valves were also closed, with which the oil stopped leaking and the contingency area was isolated.

“Petroperú strongly rejects these acts perpetrated by unscrupulous people who attack 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,” he said in the same statement.

Likewise, the mobilization of personnel and contractors to the area for the verification, containment and control of hydrocarbons was arranged.

The state company, in compliance with legal procedures, will inform the supervisory authorities such as OEFA and Osinergmin about what is found in the field, within the established deadlines. Likewise, it processes the complaint before the Maypuco Police Station and the participation of the Prosecutor’s Office for the corresponding investigations of this attack.

“We call for the immediate participation of law enforcement and authorities to guarantee the safety of the containment, control, cleaning and remediation activities of this contingency. This intervention is very necessary in order to safeguard the well-being of the communities and replenish the operating conditions for the transport of hydrocarbons through the ONP, which values ​​the crude oil from the northern jungle of the country,” the oil company stated.