Offshore oil spill threatens beaches in eastern Thailand

By: The Associated Press Posted: Last Modified:

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BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s navy was helping Wednesday to clean up a spill of as much as 128 tons (160,000 liters) of crude oil that leaked from a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/01/2022 (1717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s navy was helping Wednesday to clean up a spill of as much as 128 tons (160,000 liters) of crude oil that leaked from a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand.

The spill is near an industrial area but some of the oil could hit area beaches by Friday if it’s not dispersed before then, said Attapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Star Petroleum Refining Public Company said the leak occurred at about 9 p.m. local time Tuesday at a mooring station about 20 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, south of Bangkok. It was stopped shortly after midnight.

In this photo released by the Royal Thai Navy, an aerial view from a navy plane shows a large oil spill off the coast of Rayong, eastern Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said 160,000 liters (42,000 gallons) of crude oil were leaked near an offshore pipeline in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, eastern Thailand, and might affect several local beaches. (Royal Thai Navy via AP)
In this photo released by the Royal Thai Navy, an aerial view from a navy plane shows a large oil spill off the coast of Rayong, eastern Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said 160,000 liters (42,000 gallons) of crude oil were leaked near an offshore pipeline in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, eastern Thailand, and might affect several local beaches. (Royal Thai Navy via AP)

Thai Navy Spokesman Vice Adm. Pokkrong Monthatphalin said in a text message that the navy sent a surveillance plane, two ships and a helicopter to help with the clean-up. He said the helicopter would survey the area and spray a chemical to help disperse the oil slick.

Star Petroleum estimated 20 tons (about 20,000 liters) of oil was floating on the surface. It began work to remove the oil overnight and expected to remove all of it. It was unclear exactly how much oil had spilled in total, it said.

“We received good support from relevant government agencies and the private sector, including manpower, working boats and dispersant supplies to support the operation to complete clean the oil from the sea’s surface,” a company statement said.

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