Brazilian energy minister announces contingency plan for oil spills
Brazil is mulling a contingency plan to deal with oil spills like the one that happened off the coast of Rio de Janeiro earlier this month, Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Edison Lobao said on Thursday.
He said Brazil should have a contingency plan to meet its needs especially after pre-salt oil reserves were found.
The minister met earlier in the day with Chevron's Latin American head Ali Moshiri. Chevron is the operator of a well which leaked in the Campo do Frade area in early November, causing a large spill.
Chevron has started to kill the well, a process which will be finished by next month, the company said. According to Moshiri, the leak is under control and the spill will disappear in the next few days.
After an analysis of the situation, Brazil's National Petroleum Agency (ANP) decided to suspend Chevron's drilling operations in the country until the investigations are completed and the company's responsibility is determined.
Brazil's environmental protection agency Ibama issued a fine of 50 million reais (26.45 million U.S. dollars) to the company for environmental damages. Chevron may also have to pay other fines, issued by ANP and by the Rio government.
Editor: Wang
English.news.cn 2011-11-25 11:19:04 FeedbackPrintRSS
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 24 (Xinhua)
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