VIDEO: Massive oil spill pollutes uMbilo River along Bellair Road
The pipeline is classified as essential infrastructure.
“THIS is the worst I’ve seen in many years!”
That’s according to Desmond D’Sa who was shocked when he witnessed the oil spill that’s turned the uMbilo River black with crude oil. D’Sa is the recipient of the 2014 Goldman Prize for environmental justice in Africa.
The community-minded environmental activist shook his head sadly when he arrived at the banks of the uMbilo river alongside Bellair Road today.
Riverside
Elvis Naidoo, a local stones dealer who works from the banks of the river, said the spill started last week Thursday.
“Usually people bathe and wash themselves for rituals and hygiene here where the river is generally clean,” he said.
However, Naidoo can do nothing at the moment while the crude oil, reportedly from an oil pipeline which brings crude oil from the upper Highway area down to the refineries near the port, is leaving the river and its banks thick with foul smelling oil.
Dead fish
“You can already smell the dead fish and other animals here even over the stench of the crude oil,” said D’Sa.
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The environmental activist said he believed it would take weeks for the spill to be contained and even then, damage would remain to the ecosystem.
Contained
However, in a statement Transnet Pipelines said the spill had been contained.
“The spillage is a result of an attempted theft incident on the crude oil pipeline. Immediately following the incident, Transnet activated its emergency response plan and team, whose focus was on limiting the extent of the spillage and recovering product. The leak from the pipeline has been plugged and preparation is currently underway to commence full repairs,” the Acting Chief Executive, Tanuja Naidoo said in a statement.
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They added that no fishing would be permitted in the harbour area for the next seven days.
Naidoo said Transnet Pipelines has had over 80 incidents of fuel theft, including incidents of attempted theft, i.e. tampering with pipeline infrastructure with the intention to steal fuel in the past year alone.
“The costs of these incidents are significant and include the cost of product, repairs and environmental rehabilitation where the fuel theft incidents resulted in environmental damage. Transnet Pipelines (TPL), an operating division of Transnet SOC Ltd. operates and maintains a network of 3800 km of high-pressure petroleum and gas pipelines from Durban to Gauteng across five provinces. “
Naidoo reminded perpetrators of these crimes that tampering with essential infrastructure is a serious offence which will be dealt with accordingly since the pipeline is classified as essential infrastructure.
“We therefore appeal to residents or any persons living near the pipelines or driving past, especially at night, to report any suspicious activities e.g. bakkies, fuel tankers in the area of the block valve chambers or near our pipeline markers etc. The toll free number is 0800 203 843.”
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