Ecopetrol accused of extensive pollution in Colombia

Colombian oil company Ecopetrol has been accused of polluting numerous sites across the country, including important water sources and wetlands. A whistleblower has leaked information suggesting that more than 800 pollution incidents went unreported from 1989 to 2018. The company has acknowledged some of these incidents but disputes the extent of the pollution. Residents around Ecopetrol's main refinery in Barrancabermeja are concerned about oil spills affecting local wildlife. The Magdalena River, which runs near the refinery, is a vital water source for millions. Fishermen in the area have reported finding oily fish and have seen negative effects on local wildlife, including dead manatees and various other animals. The whistleblower, Andrés Olarte, worked at Ecopetrol and raised concerns about pollution data. After leaving the company in 2019, he shared documents with the BBC that showed many pollution sites had not been cleaned up for years. Despite these findings, Ecopetrol claims it follows environmental laws and has effective processes for managing pollution. Ecopetrol's former CEO denied any policies to hide pollution information, attributing some spills to sabotage from armed groups. However, data from Colombian environmental regulators shows the company has continued to report hundreds of oil spills each year since 2020. Threats against environmental defenders in Colombia are a serious issue. Both Olarte and local fisherwoman Yuly Velásquez have received threats for speaking out about Ecopetrol's practices. Velásquez, now under government protection, insists on the need to fight for the environment despite the dangers. Amid ongoing environmental concerns and community threats, both Olarte and Velásquez remain committed to raising awareness about pollution and its impact on their communities. They believe strong action is needed to protect the environment and ensure safety for those who speak up.