A Peruvian judge on Friday barred Repsol’s Peruvian director and three other executives from leaving the country for 18 months while the government investigates an oil spill at a refinery run by the Spanish company.
Authorities in Peru are investigating Repsol following the Jan. 15 oil spill, which reportedly occurred after huge waves caused by the eruption of an underwater volcano near Tonga.
Peru declared an environmental emergency last week after declaring 21 beaches on its Pacific coast contaminated by a spill. Prosecutors are also investigating environmental pollution crimes.
Peruvian authorities on Friday raised their estimate of the spill to at least 11,900 barrels and said the figure could rise. Repsol put the spill at 10,396 barrels. Earlier estimates put at least 6,000 barrels.
Judge Romualdo Aguedo imposed the injunction after considering the possible departure of Repsol’s Peruvian director Jaime Fernndez-Cuesta and three executives from the country. The company said it was cooperating with authorities on the investigation and was working to clean up the affected beaches.
Repsol employs more than 2,000 people, including local fishermen, to clean the beaches. The company has also pledged to provide food baskets to affected households.
Complete News Source : Business Standard
