The legislators that make up the Special Commission for Costa Rica’s accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ruled on a bill that implies the Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery (RECOPE) must pay approximately $3,000 a year to a fond or in case of possible spills of hydrocarbons in the Costa Rican seas.
The figure was estimated by Haydee Rodriguez, vice minister of seas, who estimated that this money would allow the country to have access to about $283 thousand for the attention of the spill, material damage, as well as losses to the fishing sector and tourism.
To have greater clarity, Rodriguez compared it with having fire insurance, which, although nobody wants to have to use, provides financial security in case of disaster.
Ana Lucía Delgado, a member of the National Liberation Party (PLN) that is part of the commission, explained that RECOPE will be in charge of providing the contribution because it is the only institution in the country that imports hydrocarbons.
The international agreement on the establishment of an international fund for compensation of damages due to oil pollution and the international agreement on civil liability arising from damage due to oil pollution received the approval of six legislators.
Delgado explained that the approval of these initiatives is vital because it is part of an international standard required for accession to the OECD, which is currently subscribed by 115 countries worldwide.
The vice minister estimated that since April 2018, the country has an executive decree in this line, however, with a law there is an opportunity to strengthen governance in this area.
The project must now be approved in the Plenary.