The World Today
Ancap announced that the La Teja Refinery suspended production after detecting an oil leak in the underwater discharge system located off José Ignacio. The decision was made to ensure safe operations while technicians work to repair the problem.
The fault was discovered on August 3rd during initial pumping operations. According to the company, it was due to a leak in the PLEM (Pipeline End Manifold) , a structure located 20 meters deep that connects the buoy to the underwater pipeline to the plant.
Since then, the agency has deployed specialized teams to advance the repairs, although it clarified that the work time will depend on weather conditions, as work on the seabed requires stability to operate safely.
Meanwhile, Ancap stated that fuel supply is secure . The company explained that it continues to distribute through accumulated inventories and refined product imports, which allows it to cover domestic demand until normal pumping at La Teja resumes.
The agency added that the oil slicks observed on Maldonado beaches last weekend are unrelated to the José Ignacio oil buoy , as it has been out of service since early August.
The company emphasized its commitment to transparency and announced that the refinery will resume operations once repairs are completed and conditions allow for safe unloading of crude oil.
