Arpel, the Association of Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Companies of Latin America and the Caribbean has released a new publication “Operational and Regulatory Considerations for the Efficient Use of Dispersants to Combat Oil Spills – April 2025”  https://www.arpel.org/en/publications/operational-and-regulatory-considerations-for-the-efficient-use-of-dispersants-to-combat-oil-spills-april2025

Arpel publication # WP01-2025 provides an overview of key regulatory requirements regarding the pre-approval and field authorization of dispersants in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, the United States, and Uruguay as well as operational planning considerations and good international practices.

It highlights opportunities for improvement in several aspects related to registration, pre-approval, availability of dispersants and application equipment, and the balance between the time necessary for field use authorization and the window of opportunity for an effective outcome of their use in case of an oil spill. It is expected that this comparison will allow users to find opportunities for improving regulatory and operational planning processes and encourage transboundary cooperation among Latin American and Caribbean countries. 

This report highlights the importance of understanding country-specific regulations and policies, as well as good industry practices for the efficient preparedness and implementation of dispersant operations in any country, which would help to minimize the environmental and socio-economic impacts of a potential spill.

The report was launched during a webinar delivered by Dr. Victoria Broje (Shell) attended by over 200 professionals from 27 countries which is available on the Arpel YouTube channel: