31 C
Hua Hin
Monday, October 2, 2023

Have any attempts been made to hide data on Rayong oil spills?

Oil spills off the coast of Rayong were among the issues featured during the non-voting general debate in Parliament on Friday (18 Feb). The opposition alleged that efforts were made to hide information on the spills, with the environment minister denying the allegation.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Warawut Silpa-archa said the spill on January 25 occurred at 10 PM and the leakage stopped shortly after midnight. He explained that it is very dark out at sea at night and so the location of oil patches could not be immediately determined. Oil booms also could not be rapidly deployed, and so the quickest way to address the spill was to apply dispersants. He added that the oil patches might have all made it to shore if dispersants had not been used before morning.

On the matter of the precise quantity of oil spilt, Warawut said the most accurate answer would come from the company responsible for the pipeline. Although an investigation into the cause of the spill and the amount of oil involved is still ongoing, the company reported that 50,000 litres were spilt. Warawut also revealed that the dispersant used in response operations was from the same brand used in 2013. However, he noted that the agent has since been improved to a level that is considered more biodegradable and capable of breaking down oil more effectively.

The minister explained that microbes will gradually eat away at the mixture of crude oil and dispersant, with the toxicity eventually receding. He also said the amount of dispersant used took into account nighttime circumstances and insisted there was no reason to hide figures for the amount of oil leaked.

Meanwhile An urgent meeting was scheduled on Sunday between officials of the Marine Department, other agencies and representatives of Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) to consider the oil company’s application for permission to plug the second rupture in their submarine oil pipeline.

The company reports that there are still about 12,000 litres of crude still in the damaged pipe.

SPRC recently sought permission to gain access to the offshore mooring platform to undertake repairs, but the Rayong office of the Marine Department postponed a decision, pending consultation with relevant agencies and more technical details from the oil company over its repair plan.

The company has already deployed numerous vessels to lay booms to contain any spillage which may occur during the maintenance work.

According to Phuripat Theerakulpisut, deputy director-general of the Marine Department, the company estimates that it will take a week repair the pipe, including three days to apply special adhesive material.

Once the crack is sealed, the company will then start pumping the residual crude oil out of the pipeline, followed by the removal of a specific section of the damaged pipe, which will be handed over to the local police as evidence.

On February 10th, about 5,000 litres of crude oil left in the pipeline leaked into the sea off Rayong province, prompting another operation to prevent it from reaching the provincial shoreline and Samet Island.

Yesterday, SPRC sent a drone to a location about 2 nautical miles to the southeast of the mooring platform for an aerial survey, after the skipper of a fishing vessel claimed to have seen traces of oil.

The company, however, said no oil spill could be detected. This was confirmed by satellite images from the Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

Regarding claims for compensation by about 2,000 fishermen and clam farmers, the provincial fisheries office said that a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, between their representatives and SPRC, to discuss the matter.

Mirko Bennardo
Author: Mirko Bennardo

Sourcethainews

Hua Hin Features

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Stay Connected

1,749FansLike
2,637FollowersFollow
448SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -[adrotate group="1"]

Latest Hua Hin News

october

02oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

02oct6:00 pm1:00 amOlaf Birthday - Hua Hin ConnectConnecting Hua Hin

03oct7:00 am11:00 amSurf Radio's Marriott Breakfast Buffet

03oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

03oct5:30 pm8:00 pmTandoori Tuesdays at Siam BakeryTandoori Tuesdays @ Siam Bakery

03oct6:30 pm8:30 pmLadies' Night 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔’ 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 @ The Standard, Hua Hin

04oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

05oct10:00 am7:00 pmTasty ThursdaysTasty Thursdays @ The Standard, Hua Hin

05oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

05oct8:00 pm10:00 amStand-Up Comedy - DWAYNE PERKINS (Netflix) RETURNS - Live in Hua Hin!From L.A. to Hua Hin, The Comedy Club Bangkok is very proud to present the return of DWAYNE PERKINS!

05oct8:00 pm10:00 pmDwayne Perkins at The Standard Comedy Club Hua HinDwayne Perkins @ The Standard Comedy Club Hua Hin - Comedy

06oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

06oct6:00 pm10:00 pmMekhong Night BuffetMekhong Night Buffet @ Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa

07oct11:00 am2:30 pmSan Marco Saturday Brunch

07oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

08oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

09oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

10oct7:00 am11:00 amSurf Radio's Marriott Breakfast Buffet

10oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

10oct5:30 pm8:00 pmTandoori Tuesdays at Siam BakeryTandoori Tuesdays @ Siam Bakery

10oct6:30 pm8:30 pmLadies' Night

10oct6:30 pm8:30 pmLadies' Night 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔’ 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 @ The Standard, Hua Hin

11oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

12oct10:00 am7:00 pmTasty ThursdaysTasty Thursdays @ The Standard, Hua Hin

12oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

13oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

13oct6:00 pm10:00 pmMekhong Night BuffetMekhong Night Buffet @ Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa

14oct11:00 am2:30 pmSan Marco Saturday Brunch

14oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

15oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

16oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

17oct7:00 am11:00 amSurf Radio's Marriott Breakfast Buffet

17oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

17oct5:30 pm8:00 pmTandoori Tuesdays at Siam BakeryTandoori Tuesdays @ Siam Bakery

17oct6:30 pm8:30 pmLadies' Night 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔’ 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 @ The Standard, Hua Hin

18oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

19oct10:00 am7:00 pmTasty ThursdaysTasty Thursdays @ The Standard, Hua Hin

19oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant

20oct11:30 am10:30 pmUnveiling Wagyu's SecretsGrilled wagyu @ Brezza Beach Bar & Restaurant