Andina

Oil spill: Peru receives assistance from 15 countries and int'l organizations

Photo: ANDINA/Andrés Valle

Photo: ANDINA/Andrés Valle

16:32 | Lima, Feb. 7.

Peru has so far received specific schemes of technical assistance and international cooperation from at least 15 entities, among friendly countries and international organizations, so as to tackle the Repsol oil spill on the Lima coast, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Monday.

According to the government department, said support is the result of the efforts made by this sector to allow both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the face of the environmental emergency caused by the oil spill.

The arrangements resulted in the arrival of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Joint Environment Unit (JEU), which evaluates and provides strategic advice to national authorities on the impact and risks.

The UN Technical Mission has been strengthened with the support of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the sending of associated experts; as well as with the sending of a merchant marine expert from Spain; two experts from the Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution (CEDRE); and a Norwegian expert from the Norwegian Coastal Administration (ACN); among others.

In addition, the ministry noted that Peru has been receiving cooperation from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the sending of satellite images to the National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA) and the forthcoming arrival of nine experts in the management of disasters and responses to oil incidents.

For its part, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has pledged to send a technical research mission to analyze hydrocarbon residues in the biosystem and seabed, which will strengthen local capacities.

In turn, the Permanent Commission of the South Pacific (CPPS) activated the cooperation mechanism provided for in the Agreement on Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the South-East Pacific by Hydrocarbons and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency, as well as its Complementary Protocol.

Other solidarity responses were received from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the Pacific Alliance, and the Andean Community, among others.

Oil spill


More than 11,000 barrels of oil were spilled into the sea.

The oil slick has spread along the coast of Ventanilla, reaching Ancon and Chancay, where a negative impact on marine flora and fauna is registered.

(END) NDP/VVS/RMB

Published: 2/7/2022