Congressional Hearing Highlights Environmental Impacts of Camisea

On June 4th, 2007 a hearing was held in the Peruvian Congress on "Camisea Gas and the Development of the Affected Communities. Presenters included the mayors of Pisco and Anco-La Mar as well as Congressional representatives from the regions of Huancavelica and Ayacucho. Wílder Manyavilca, Mayor of the province of Anco-La Mar (Ayacucho) described the damage to forests, contamination of water and medicinal plants, and the loss of agricultural activity caused by the project. He asked for a fund to compensate agriculturalists for the loss of flora and fauna. A recent study estimated that socio-environmental impacts of the project in Anco-La Mar alone were 39,062,885 Nuevo Soles (US$ 12.3 m).

Representatives from Pisco stated that the project had caused environmental damage in Paracas Bay and feared an increase in problems as the fractionation plant is expanded. The demanded a halt to all Camisea II activities. Pluspetrol responded in La Republica that Paracas Bay is not contaminated, citing a monitoring report of ProParacas which found water quality and biodiversity to be within "normal parameters."

Vice Minister of Energy, Pedro Gamio announced that the government had met 70% of its 21 commitments under the IDB Program for Institutional Strengthening and Support for Environmental and Social Management which will end in August.

Article on the hearing in La Republica.