On June 18, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) approved through Directorial Resolution No. 149 -2021-MINEM/DGAAH the “Rehabilitation Plan for Impacted Site S0109” as it complies with the technical and legal requirements of environmental regulations. Impacted Site S0109 has an area of 336.58 m2; it is located adjacent to the territory of the José Olaya Native Community –Corrientes River basin–, district of Trompeteros, province and department of Loreto, and the volume of soil to be remediated is 302.92 m3.
At the Impacted Site S0109 there is surface evidence of hydrocarbons, the outcrop of a spill in a nearby creek and evidence of spills in soils due to ruptured pipelines. The approval of the S0109 Remediation Plan is important because the affected site is located near a natural canal system, so remediation would avoid the possible impact on water sources, and would also improve the quality of ecosystems and the health of the communities living in the surrounding area.
The remediation technique to be used will be a combination of isolation with geomembrane (removal of the affected material and disposal in a geomembrane cell) and the Stabilization/Solidification technique (removal of the affected material and disposal in an impermeable cell with the addition of cement). In both cases, slopes will be shaped and the area will be revegetated.
So far, the Rehabilitation Plans for sites S0115 and S0109 have been approved. S0115 was the first plan to be approved in February of this year and is located in the territory of the Nueva Jerusalén Native Community in the Corrientes basin.
With the approval of the S0109 Rehabilitation Plan, another step forward in the environmental remediation of sites impacted by hydrocarbon activities is being taken. This is the result of a joint effort between State entities and Federations of Native Communities, who make up the Contingency Fund Administration Board.
In 2015 the Peruvian State approved the creation of the Contingency Fund for Environmental Remediation in order to allocate economic resources to prepare studies and the rehabilitation of areas impacted by hydrocarbons in the basins of the Marañón, Corrientes, Tigre and Pastaza rivers. Currently, the Fund has more than 400 million soles and, through its Board of Directors, has submitted 30 Rehabilitation Plans to MINEM for evaluation, of which 2 plans have been approved and 28 are under evaluation.
Profonanpe has the role of Technical, Administrative and Financial Secretariat of the Contingency Fund since January 2020.
