Earlier this week, Peruvian state-owned oil company
Petro-Perú announced
preliminary figures regarding how many barrels of oil were spilled in the
Peruvian Amazon because of breaks in its oil pipeline. Approximately 3,000
barrels of crude spilled from the pipeline, half the amount of oil that it
regularly transports each day. The oil has since traveled into the Chiriaco and
Morona rivers. Peruvian environmental regulator agency OEFA emphasized that, “It's
important to note that the spills...are not isolated cases. Similar emergencies
have emerged as a result of defects in sections of the pipeline.”
In mining-related news, Newmont mining company CEO Gary
Goldberg spoke
in Lima about the Peruvian mining industry. He argued that the sector needs
more transparency, not just from mining companies, but also from the Peruvian
government and civil society. He also stressed that in order for mining
investments to be successful, there needs to be strong social acceptance of the
mining projects.
Lastly, Peruvian civil society organizations called
on the International Council for Mining and Metals (ICMM) to encourage
Peruvian mining companies to pay more attention to environmental issues. They
also asked for greater respect to communities’ rights to prior consultation and
the protection of human rights.
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