Repsol continues cleaning up oil spillage in Peru

Spanish refinery Repsol says it is 48 per cent through the total cleanup of a January 15 oil spill off the coast of the Peruvian capital, Lima.

Company spokesman Luis Vasquez said on Monday that the progress is in line with the schedule presented to Peruvian authorities.

Nearly 3,000 people are working on the cleanup.

However, marine conservation organisations such as Oceana believe that the response to the spill has been slow.

Peru's environmental assessment and enforcement agency estimates that some 18,000 square meters of beach on Peru's Pacific coast have been affected by the spill.

The incident on 15 January saw some 11,900 barrels of crude oil being spilled.

It's affected 24 beaches,and covers 116 square kilometers, an area slightly larger than Paris.

Repsol has hired more than 2,000 people, including local fishermen, to clean up the beaches.

IMAGE: AP