2018.03.2816:46:00UTC+00ECOPETROL: Environmental Agency Studies Sanctions Against The Company

The Colombian Authority of Environmental Licenses (ANLA) started a sanctioning procedure against the state-owned oil company Ecopetrol due to the oil spill in an abandoned well in Barrancabermeja. The spilling completed 25 days, causing a social, economic and environmental impact in the Magdalena Medio region.

"Ecopetrol reported to the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) in February that the Lizama 158 well was in suspension for a whole year due to mechanical problems and faults in its lining or construction, a situation not known by the ANLA, so these facts will be the subject of this investigation," said the entity.

According to the authority, this sanctioning procedure against the Ecopetrol is also given for not having activated the contingency plan or executed and controlled the emergency procedures.

"Failure to report the circumstances that aggravated the initial conditions of the contingency reported and that demonstrated the real magnitude of the event and to have reported as controlled the situation on March 3, hindering the monitoring activity by the ANLA," said the entity.