A oil spill shook the waters of the Bahía Blanca estuary last Thursday afternoon, in Puerto Rosales.
The incident occurred at the Otamérica dock and raised concerns among environmental specialists due to the recurrence of these events.
The incident was recorded around 6:30 p.m., when the company detected an anomalous situation in its facilities.
Following this, the Hydrocarbon Spill Contingency Plan (PLANACON) was immediately activated and the Argentine Naval Prefecture was notified.
The company reported 40 liters spilled in the oil spill
According to the official statement from Otamérica, the oil spill involved approximately 40 liters of crude oil.
The firm suspended its operations to inspect both the facilities and the surrounding water.
“Faced with the presence of a sector that showed oily traces (estimated at a total of 40 liters of oil), containment and control work was carried out using barriers and absorbent booms,” the company detailed.
During the early hours of Friday, the company conducted additional surveys that confirmed the absence of remaining product on the water surface.
Inspections for this oil spill covered the adjacent riverside area and the Funnel Channel.
The questions from environmental experts
Biologist Pablo Petracci, from the Indio Fidalgo Marine Fauna Rescue Station, strongly questioned the official figure reported after the oil spill.
“That figure is ridiculous and raises concerns because it does not match what we later saw as the stain on the water,” the specialist asserted.
Additionally, Petracci expressed his concern about the frequency of these incidents: this is the fourth oil spill in the area during the last summers.
The expert also criticized the lack of speed and transparency of the company in its response to the incident.
“The hydrocarbon is a silent killer because it remains in the environment for a very long time, with potentially serious consequences,” he warned.
The impact of the oil spill in a protected area
The oil spill affected jurisdictional areas of the Multiple Use Reserve, requiring intervention by the Buenos Aires Ministry of Environment.
Additionally, the Argentine Naval Prefecture still needs to define the appropriate sanctions for the responsible company.
The authorities of the provincial ministry of environment conducted maritime and aerial monitoring in the affected area.
Otamérica reported that it remains in constant contact with the authorities and the Puerto Rosales community.
A call for greater prevention
Following the oil spill, specialists demanded stricter measures considering that Otamérica currently ships the largest amount of crude oil produced in Vaca Muerta.
In this regard, biologist Petracci highlighted key aspects to prevent future incidents:
- Minimize human and mechanical failures in operations
- Implement faster response protocols
- Ensure transparency in information about oil spills
- Strengthen containment and monitoring systems
“We have to push hard for prevention because we are talking about a large company that cannot continue having these types of events,” the expert concluded.
Now, the company keeps monitoring active in the area while continuing the evaluation of the environmental impact of the oil spill.
