| | |  Editorials | Environmental 
Mexico Fears BP Spill Risks
 Singapore Press
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June 11, 2010
| | BP’s damaged well in the Gulf of Mexico has been leaking twice as much oil as previously estimated. Reuters' Jon Decker reports. | |
Mexico City - Mexico expects oil from BP Plc's damaged Gulf of Mexico well to reach its shores by December, and is considering how to sue the company for any environmental damage, Mexico's environment minister told Reuters.
The gushing well, off Louisiana, is about 800km from the nearest point on Mexico's coast, but changing currents could bring oil tar balls and sick or dying sea turtles drifting toward its shores.
Environment Minister Juan Elvira said Mexico is trying to add to its stocks of oil booms and netting, a tough task because the United States has used up most of the gear to protect its coastline, to try to capture oil that will start drifting south when sea currents change in October.
The equipment will be deployed by the navy to protect the country's sandy beaches and delicate mangrove forests when the oil comes to its shores.
'We think it will be in the month of December, not before, according to our simulations,' Mr Elvira said in an interview late on Wednesday.
The BP disaster is prompting Mexico to consider tightening environmental rules for its own deep water drilling plans, Mr Elvira said. New regulations could slow down the process of issuing incentive-based contracts for private companies wanting to partner with state oil company Pemex. |
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