Ecopetrol - Petroecuador Oil Spill Response Agreement – Practical Steps to Effective Regional Cooperation

Abstract

ABSTRACT In July 1998, there was an environmental emergency caused by an oil spill in an Ecuadorian pipeline operated by PETROECUADOR (Petróleos del Ecuador). One part of the spilled volume reached the Pacific Ocean and the marine currents caused the oil slick to approach the Colombian coast, creating an environmental hazard. ECOPETROL (Empresa Colombiana de Petróleos) activated its contingency plan in the Port of Tumaco to meet the emergency. As a result of the above experience both companies signed a Mutual Cooperation Agreement to Combat and Control Oil Spills Caused by Oil Tankers and Coastal and Marine Oil Facilities, in October 1999. The Agreement was established in order to allow for a quick and effective joint response in emergency situations of this nature. The bilateral agreement is activated when resources, staff and equipment of the affected party are insufficient. At present it is under implementation. In addition, ECOPETROL and PETROECUADOR, as part of the regional cooperation process on oil spill contingency planning led by ARPEL in Latin America and the Caribbean, involved the Agreement in the framework of the environmental cooperation program with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to optimize such agreement. This bilateral agreement represents the first real case in Latin America in terms of implementation of the Cooperation in the OPRC 90 Convention, through the joint work of government/industry, and serves as an example for the other countries in the Region.