Efforts are underway to assess the environmental impact of a recent crude oil leak near the Thai Oil refinery in Chonburi province. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is working with various agencies to manage the situation and prevent oil residue from spreading to other areas.
The oil leakage incident occurred at the refinery of Thai Oil Public Company Limited in Sriracha district on September 3, during an oil discharge operation at the Single Buoy Mooring Buoy (SBM-2). Authorities swiftly responded to control the situation, with the Marine Department and the Pollution Control Department cooperating with Thai Oil to manage oil residue and prevent further spreading. Thai Oil later announced successful containment operations, which included closing valves and using extra containment booms in accordance with international regulations, effectively halting any further oil leakage.
Apichai Ekwanakul, Acting Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said recent inspections by the government and private sector found a thin oil residue film, approximately 5 kilometers wide, drifting towards the western part of Sichang Island and partially towards Ao Udom. Recent checks revealed oil residue off Tamuen Island, prompting Thai Oil to take immediate action to remove it. They have also enlisted help from the Royal Thai Navy in obtaining aerial images using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Authorities are also examining coastal areas susceptible to oil impact, including potential harm to aquaculture, as the area is home to oyster farms along with 1,500 mussel rafts. The Coastal and Marine Resources Research and Development Center is collecting water samples from the affected area for water quality analysis. Authorities are meanwhile closely monitoring the situation to prevent further damage to the aquatic ecosystem. (NNT)
