Response to a serious oil spill which occurred on 21^st December 2024 is continuing in coastal areas of Northern Peru.  The spill, estimated by Peru’s environmental agency OEFA (Organismo de Evaluación y Fiscalización Ambiental) to have impacted 10,000 square meters of surface seawater and at least seven beaches, as well as local wildlife, occurred at the Petroperú Talara Refinery offshore terminal. A month and a half after the Talara spill incident the response and beach clean-up actions have progressed, and responders are now in the final stage of oil removal in the impacted rocky areas of the coastline.  The 25^th December declaration of a 90-day Environmental Emergency by the Ministry of Environment continues to apply and requires state agencies to intervene and prioritise response and follow-up actions (link attached below). In this context, the OEFA fined Petroperú USD 51,813 after determining that it failed to provide clear information on the amount of crude oil spilled and the causes of the incident. Preliminary investigations indicate that the spill may have been caused by a failure of a transfer hose. The Specialised Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for Environmental Matters in Sullana has opened a preliminary investigation against Petroperú for alleged environmental contamination.

The final report on the Talara spill, prepared by the Ministry of Environment in conjunction with the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MINEM) and other entities, is due to be presented between 10^th  and 15^th February, 45 days after the incident.  Peru’s Law N° 32190, published on 13^th December 2024, requires the creation of a Single Consolidated Registry of Persons Affected by Oil Spills, and seeks to identify, evaluate and document persons and organizations affected by this type of incident.  The political authorities in the region are currently promoting its implementation in the community.

Our thanks to Carlos Sagrera for supplying links and ongoing commentary

Links to recent coverage of the Talara spill (Español):

https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minam/campa%C3%B1as/91262-declaratoria-de-emergencia-ambiental-de-la-provincia-de-talara-en-piura

https://www.infobae.com/peru/2025/01/29/derrame-de-petroleo-en-talara-petroperu-aun-no-detalla-las-causas-del-desastre-lamento-el-ministro-del-ambiente

https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/7414308/6318979-rm-00443-2024-minam.pdf?v=1735178042