The Costa Rica Fire Department had to handle this Sunday night the spillage of close to 3,000 gallons of fuel from an oil pipeline.

The spillage was reported at 9:10 p.m. close to the Dos Pinos factory in El Coyol, Alajuela, to handle the emergency, transit police had to close Route 1 which connects San Jose and Alajuela. There are no reports of people affected by the spillage; to avoid environmental damage and any danger the unit of dangerous materials has been trying to clean the spilled fuel.

Last Tuesday, the state refinery (RECOPE) had reported damages in the Moin plant, specifically in the system of distribution of GLP gas, a worker of RECOPE was arrested in this case, while two others managed to scape from the police.

Recope reports that employees that remain working have received threats, their cars have been vandalized and the tanker trucks that arrive at the different facilities to load fuel are constantly blocked and subject to the threats and/or acts of violence of protesters.

“We had a severe affectation in the oil pipeline last night in the area of El Coyol. The damage to the pipeline was a sabotage, premeditated, and not just any person can do this, because not anyone would risk doing something like this not knowing the pressure that the oil will come out at, this was someone with enough knowledge on what they were doing”, stated Alejandro Muñoz, Executive President of Recope.

The Fire Department affirmed the act was evidently vandalism, three holes were drilled in the pipeline. “These situations endanger the lives of many people”.
“All the oil was reaching the roadway which could have generated a fire with just a spark. This is not a strike, these are criminal acts, this is sabotage”, said Juan Carlos Mendoza, Minister of Communication.

Muñoz also reaffirmed that Recope has enough fuel to satisfy the demand in the country, the problem has been the distribution of the same due to the roadblocks near the Recope facilities.

Michael Soto, Minister of Public Security, commented “It is evident that the only objective they have is to affect the Recope plant of La Garita (…). Our intention is not to hurt or clash with anyone, but we are valuing taking tougher actions to guarantee the rights of all Costa Ricans. These acts are directly related to the protests and are unacceptable”.