Loreto: Prosecutor's Office opens investigation against Perupetro for the spill in Lot 192

The Prosecutor's Office specializing in environmental matters in Loreto opened a preliminary investigation into the oil spill that occurred in Lot 192. This decision was made following the finding that there is an impact on the soil, which was carried out in conjunction with the Environmental Assessment and Control Agency (OEFA) ).

Prosecutor Félix Alberto Castro Valderrama, head of the investigation, indicated that the state hydrocarbons company is in charge of the batch in question, and has therefore initiated appropriate legal action to determine the causes of the spill. At the same time, the report indicates the responsibility of the state enterprise for the maintenance of infrastructure, depending on compliance with the rules and regulations on hydrocarbons.

On March 4, the prosecutor's office became aware of an oil spill coming from Well 1, Lot 192, in charge of, and immediately coordinated with OEFA to move to the 12 de Octubre community, located on the banks of the Tigre River, in order to verify the information. During the seven-day diligence, the prosecutor's office, together with OEFA staff, was able to verify that soil, vegetation and water were affected by oil.

OIL CONTRACTS ABOUT TO EXPIRE

Currently, there are six Talara oil contracts that will expire between 2023 and 2028, including: Early bidding prior to batch reconfiguration; tendering of lots as currently configured; awarding lots to; and signing new contracts with current operators.

In this regard, expert Carlos Gonzales Ávila, Manager of Enerconsult, in dialogue with Peru 21, points out that, with regard to the advance bidding of lots, as far as is known, the PERUPETRO project involves carrying out a tender, after reconfiguration, converting six lots into two.

“The six mentioned contracts will end on different dates (between 2023 and 2028) and the two Lots awarded in the tender will be modified as the contracts end. However, the activities committed in the new contracts can only be executed when the lots have been awarded to the winners. The reconfiguration involves regrouping, in two batches, 100 deposits that are currently distributed in six lots. That will mean that the work programs proposed by PeruPetro as the basis of the tender.” , he refers.

“With regard to the award of the lots to PetroPeru, it would have to be expected that the current lots will return to PeruPetro, as happened with Lot 192, PetroPeru will surely propose a Minimum Work Program against which PetroPeru will have to qualify by accrediting a residual equity equivalent to 200 per cent of the value of the investments concerned. However, the company will be able to call on strategic partners to operate the lots,” says Gonzales.

Finally, the specialist indicated that Bill No. 804/2021-CR has been submitted to Congress, proposing to standardize the term for oil exploitation with that of non-associated natural gas by modifying article 22 of the Hydrocarbons Act. The original text of the aforementioned Bill contained the possibility of extensions of 20 years subject to approval by PERUPETRO. The proposal for an opinion that was reviewed by the Committee on Energy and Mines eliminated the issue of extensions.

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