Ecobreves – CHILE: Refinery Fined

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SANTIAGO, Sep 29 2002 (IPS) - – The Chilean Superintendent's Office for Electricity and Fuel slapped the Concón petroleum refinery, the country's largest, with a 695,000-dollar fine for the contamination caused in four industrial accidents this year. The most recent incident was a pipeline leak, Jul 5, that dumped 40 cubic meters of petroleum.

On May 9, there was a leak of 35 cubic meters of oil into Aconcagua River; Mar 27 a refinery boiler ignited; and another 65-cubic-meter oil leak on Jan 17 complete the chain of Concón accidents.

The four incidents were due to poor installation, care and management of the refinery, ruled the Superintendent's Office.