on Thursday affirmed the Peruvian State will not give up on actions that lead to sanctions against the Repsol company over the oil spill caused in the nation's sea area.
In remarks to Andina news agency,
Minister Ramirez reported that Mare Doricum tanker Captain Giacomo Pisani has delivered valuable material to Peruvian authorities. Said material proves his disagreement with how the multinational company has operated.
"Definitely, we won't give up on these sanctions that are to be issued, and we are analyzing the possibility of coercive measures so that the company directors fulfill their obligation, initially of cleanup and decontamination and later of remediation," he explained.
The Minam head said Repsol assumed that it had failed to provide correct information on the oil spill. However, it hides behind a sudden heavy swell as a consequence of the Tonga volcano eruption.
Nonetheless, the port authority has ruled out that argument, the Cabinet member stressed.
"At that time, related activities were being carried out; there was no type of anomaly in the sea. On the contrary, the tanker's captain indicates that he had not felt any type of heavy swell that could have denaturalized the course of the ship," he specified.
Minister Ramirez emphasized that what happened in the Peruvian sea area should be a milestone to mark a severe response from the Peruvian State, which is why —he indicated— civil and criminal measures are being proposed.
The suspension of the company is even being analyzed, he added.
Moreover, the government official underlined that the Peruvian State cannot allow a company to operate while damaging the environment and humanity.
"I deduce that it (Repsol) has only had a contingency plan on paper; it has never thought that this event would happen," he noted.
The Cabinet member emphasized that in the case of ecological disaster, the assessment is not only environmental but also social.
"This damage is environmental, social, and even moral to the country," he concluded.
Oil spill
After meeting with Repsol representatives, Environment Minister Ruben Ramirez pointed out that around 6,000 barrels of oil were spilled.
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) RMCH/VVS/MVB