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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

National oil spill drill begins

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MUSCAT: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) began a national oil spill drill, yesterday.


The two-day drill, dubbed Nawras 2017, is aimed at testing the preparedness of the parties involved in the pollution control operations.


It is carried out in Qurm Beach, Mina Al Fahal, Al Ghubra Desalination Plant and near Al Fahal Island.


The exercise began with routine operation by loading an oil tanker at Mina Al Fahal by using the mooring buoy No 2 as oil began spilling from a submarine pipeline due to an unknown reason.


The leak remained undetected until huge amounts of oil began to spread forming a large oil slick. It was ascertained that the oil tanker was not the source of the oil spill then the tanker was removed from the mooring buoy zone.


The oil slick was spotted at 0600 hours around the mooring buoy No 2 at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) during a routine inspection following which a report was sent to the maritime operations and PDO control room. Instructions for an emergent stop of the pumping operations and closure of all valves were given to all the mooring buoys.


Beaches in Muscat city at Al Qurm, Al Ghubra and Mina al Fahal were closed on Tuesday for general public and visitors as part of the national oil spill drill.


The programme has been conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs in cooperation with the PDO Oman. The programme will continue on Wednesday.


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