Madrid's U-turn on Prestige leak
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA 04 December – The Spanish government is to contract energy company Repsol YPF to launch an inspection of the wreck of the tanker Prestige. Saturday's decision by deputy prime minister María Teresa Fernández De la Vega follows a rejection of calls for an investigation last week, but comes after tests on samples of fuel oil that confirmed leaks of up to 50 litres of fuel a day from the stern of the wreck. “I am certain and can guarantee 100% that the leaks will neither increase nor affect the land and marine environment,” De la Vega said at the weekend, but added that the government wanted to provide “another guarantee” for the environment. De la Vega announced the move after talks with Repsol YPF chairman Antonio Brufau on Friday. Meanwhile De la Vega has unveiled a tool that will give an indication of changes to ocean currents, thereby offering better preparedness in a crisis. It will be a scientific basis for decision-making that was dearly missed four years ago, the minister said.