ENAP executives face criminal complaints over alleged pollution data manipulation

Sixteen former executives of the Chilean state oil company, ENAP, are facing criminal complaints following allegations of environmental data manipulation. Families from the coastal communes of Quintero and Puchuncaví, represented by lawyer Remberto Valdés, filed three criminal complaints (querellas criminales) in the Valparaíso region.

The accusations suggest that between 2021 and 2025, officials at the Aconcagua refinery altered the calculation methods for sulfur recovery efficiency parameters. This alleged manipulation of contaminant levels was reportedly used to provide false information to the Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente (the national environmental regulator).

Investigations indicate that these data alterations may have been intended to meet internal performance targets, which directly influenced the payment of executive bonuses. Chilean lawmaker Cristian Tapia has criticized the situation, noting that such scandals follow similar recent controversies at other state-owned entities like Codelco.