Lima, June 24, 2022. In view of the conclusions mentioned in the Final Report on the causes that would have originated the spill in Ventanilla, prepared by the Commission of Andean, Amazonian, Afro-Peruvian Peoples, Environment and Ecology of the Congress of the Republic and that have been picked up by some media, we inform the following:
Regarding the state of the PLEM where it is stated that the pipeline is old and would not have had maintenance, we flatly deny it and point out that:
- The PLEM dates back to 2013, not 1975. Its manufacture was subjected to non-destructive testing and final hydrostatic testing.
- The installation was in perfect conditions of maintenance and mechanical integrity to be able to carry out the crude oil unloading maneuvers in safe conditions.
- The last inspection, carried out in October 2020, reports that the thicknesses are within specification, and the hydrostatic test on January 4, 2022 was satisfactory.
- OSINERGMIN statements, contained in the aforementioned report, confirm the above:
- “The PLEM that has been the subject of the emergency of the multiboyas terminal 2, of the company Relapasa SAA, is a PLEM that was designed, manufactured and installed in 2013, and counted for it with the verification of OSINERGMIN that is embodied in what we call a favorable technical opinion”.
- Regarding the state of the facilities, OSINERGMIN pointed out that “a hydrostatic test of the system that includes said pipeline, PLEM and hoses has been made in January 2022, before the event; and in November 2019, having satisfactory results.
- On the other hand, we communicate that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is carrying out the expert tests of materials that will allow reaching the definitive technical conclusions on the event.
With reference to the fact that the standard pressure for oil discharge would have been exceeded, which could have caused the detachment of the PLEM, we strongly deny it and point out that:
- The discharge pressures in the operation of the Mare Doricum were at all times within the established parameters and in accordance with the design characteristics of the facility. The records of the control and monitoring system of the discharge process of the Mare Doricum ship confirm that the established range of pressures was respected at all times. The pressure, measured on the ship, did not exceed 10kg/cm2. Likewise, the pressure measured at the arrival of the subsea line to land did not exceed 7 kg/cm2 at any time.
Regarding the fact that a greater amount of oil arrived than expected, due to alleged differences between the amount of crude oil purchased, delivered and declared to SUNAT, we categorically deny this and point out that:
- The crude oil purchase contract establishes a purchase of 950,000 barrels, with a delivery tolerance of +/- 10 %, therefore the amount of 985,696.3 barrels, established in the Bill of Lading, is within the contractual tolerance. It is a standard and usual practice in this type of transactions that the quantity officially purchased is the one declared and stated in the official cargo document (Bill of Lading), as established in the purchase and sale contract. This quantity corresponds to the official measurements taken at the time of loading in the seller’s land tanks.
It is important to point out that all this information was submitted in a timely manner to the Congressional Commission, so we regret the conclusions of the report, which do not contribute to clarify the facts.
The company will continue to collaborate in a transparent manner with the authorities and to look after the people affected, as it has done at all times.
La Pampilla Refinery S.A.A.