ENAP knew of sulfur calculation anomalies since 2025, emails reveal

Chilean state-owned oil company ENAP was aware of irregularities in its sulfur calculations at the Aconcagua refinery as early as January 2025, according to internal documents. These documents reveal that executives recognized a discrepancy between the methodology used at the refinery and the one approved by the environmental regulator, the Superintendencia del Medio Ambiente (SMA).

At the time, ENAP executives explicitly discussed the need to inform the SMA about the different calculation method. They also debated whether this change in methodology had any bearing on the refinery's reported sulfur emissions. Despite these early discussions, the company's subsequent actions suggest a failure to promptly address the issue with the authorities.

Further internal documents from a year later, in January 2026, show that the company's internal investigation raised concerns about the accuracy of the reported data. This prompted ENAP to seek legal counsel, framing the situation from a "penal/strategic" viewpoint rather than solely an environmental one. This shift in perspective indicates a growing concern within the company about potential legal ramifications stemming from the sulfur calculation anomalies.