Lima, February 14, 2022. After a month of cleanup work, Repsol reports a 72% progress in the areas affected by the Mare Doricum spill on January 15 and is now in the final phase of the schedule of actions to collect the product. Environmental remediation activities will continue once the cleanup phase is complete.
The company remains fully committed to cleaning up and remediating the affected areas with effort, efficiency and responsibility. “Our commitment is to return the Peruvian coastline to its natural state. We are employing all the resources at our disposal – human, technical and economic – to make this possible, working with transparency and in full collaboration with the competent authorities,” said Repsol Peru President Jaime Fernández-Cuesta.
The sea surface cleanup will be completed this week, after which the teams will focus on carrying out daily patrols for surveillance, prevention and recovery of any traces of hydrocarbons. These patrols will be complemented by continuous monitoring of the situation, applying the latest artificial intelligence and data analytics techniques.
By the end of February, the work on accessible beaches will be completed, while in hard-toaccess areas (rocky cliffs) it will continue until March. Several beaches on the initially affected coastline no longer show evidence of oil and the work is progressing according to the initial plan, based on SCAT methodology, an international shoreline assessment technique that determines the best cleanup practices for each site based on the characteristics of the terrain.
This technique has been developed by Dr. Edward Owens, who is participating in the cleanup work organized and coordinated by Repsol from the Control Center installed at the La Pampilla Refinery. The operation is made up of 56 companies of international prestige and professionals of 17 nationalities. Among them are world leaders in hydrocarbon cleanup and remediation, such as Lamor, Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) and Environmental Resources Management (ERM). They are joined by Peruvian scientist Marino Morikawa, who specializes in the recovery of natural habitats using biotechnology and nanotechnology principles, who will be in charge of the cleanup in areas of special environmental protection. Since the Mare Doricum spill, Repsol has deployed a team of more than 2,500 people for cleanup work at sea and on beaches. In addition, it has used the advanced technology and materials for this type of spill, including more than 11,000 meters of containment booms, 144 units of heavy machinery, 35 major vessels, 54 smaller vessels, 38 skimmers and 68 floating tanks.
For the subsequent remediation work, Repsol will continue to work closely with the authorities and with leading organizations in the rehabilitation of natural areas. In this process, the use of state-of-the-art technology will continue, and monitoring and control of water, soil and fauna will be intensified.
Community support
Similarly, Repsol has been providing support to more than 2,800 people, grouped in 34 fishermen and merchants’ collectives in Chancay, Ancón, Santa Rosa and Ventanilla. The types of support, as well as the periodicity of deliveries, have been previously agreed with these collectives.Dialogue is underway with other associations representing more than 800 people to incorporate them into this process. Likewise, in coordination with the affected population, the company is developing medium and long-term support plans.
Repsol is committed to maintaining this support until the beaches and the sea are suitable for the resumption of productive activity.
Rescue and reinsertion of fauna
On the other hand, animal rescue work continues in the affected area. Treatment and recovery is being carried out at the Wildlife Rescue Center set up by Repsol in the Parque de las Leyendas. This is an area of more than 1,200 m2 in the Lima Zoo, which has the appropriate equipment for this type of work. Repsol also delivered a temporary veterinary center for the care of the animals housed in the Parque de las Leyendas.
The Rescue Center has been financed by Repsol and the design and implementation of the Center was carried out with the specialized advice of Aiuká, an international wildlife rescue organization. Aiuká’s specialists have been providing technical advice and training to Las Leyendas Park personnel throughout the treatment and rehabilitation process of rescued animals until they are released.
Uncontrolled movement of the vessel
Regarding the origin of the spill, investigations indicate that it was due to an uncontrolled movement of the vessel Mare Doricum while it was unloading crude at Terminal No. 2 of La
Pampilla Refinery. Through its lawyers, Repsol has filed a claim with the owners of the vessel Mare Doricum and its insurers, which is the beginning of the process of coverage for the damages caused by the oil spill.