Six thousand 308 hectares have been deforested, said Deputy Minister of Environment Jose Rodrigo Rodas in an interview with Diario de Centro America, regarding the national authorities’ denial of an extension to the Anglo-French company Perenco.

This toll (in the protected area of Laguna del Tigre, municipality of San Andres) entails environmental, ecological, and flora and fauna damage, as well as the degradation of ecosystems and aquifers, the deputy minister noted.

And it’s not just the loss of forest, he added, but there is also an area usurped by different populations that fostered this agricultural and livestock expansion, the official explained.

The Xan camp alone occupies 150 hectares, and there has been environmental fragmentation, the introduction of elements not appropriate for the site’s habitat, and the loss of flora and fauna, Rodas emphasized in his statements to the media.

“We found a large number of environmental liabilities, possibly contaminated soils, and contaminated surface and groundwater,” he emphasized.

He referred to the management of hazardous solid waste, such as containers and materials impregnated with or containing petroleum residues, chemical compounds from refining, lubricants, lamps, batteries, used filters, among others.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines now seeks to guarantee the safety of people, neighboring communities, the environment, and the assets, equipment, infrastructure, and the operations of the sector itself.

jdt/ro/znc