Mangrove impact contained after oil fire spill
The Department of environmental affairs is continuing its efforts.
ABOUT 663,430 litres of oil were recovered from waterways during clean-up operations following the fire at Africa Sun Oil on Thursday, 26 March.
Africa Sun Oils confirmed with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) that an estimated 580,000 to 700,000 litres of soya and sunflower oil was being stored at the site at the time of the fire, which broke out in the early hours of 26 March. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, before getting it under control, but the building was destroyed. During the emergency, oil spilled into adjacent canals and flowed downstream, into the Durban Harbour.
The DEA has been monitoring the situation and has said that there is currently no more oil to be recovered from the silt canal. Visible oil was removed from the water in the Solomon Mahlangu Drive weir, the Amanzimnyama canal, the silt canal and the Bayhead area. The clean-up is continuing along the slipways, rocks and canal walls.
The DEA reports that they received no reports on species mortalities and that scientific advice following testing showed that the vegetable oil is considered non-toxic to marine life because the oil was already processed for human consumption. Despite this, they have requested that the marine specialist appointed by Africa Sun Oil develop a precautionary long-term monitoring programme.
According to the DEA, the Amanzimnyama canal remains boomed-off as a precautionary measure and the Africa Sun Oil site is still condoned-off by the Department of Labour.
A directive was issued by the DEA to Africa Sun Oil for a specialist to be brought in to investigate the condition of the groundwater and they were told to prevent the spread of the oil into the mangroves, the natural heritage site and the sandbanks, which the DEA confirms remain safe as the spill was contained within the silt canal and Bayhead area.
“However, a few mangroves within the upper part of the silt canal and the Bayhead areas could not be saved as these areas are the gateway into the coastal waters. Our scientific and research teams have advised that the affected mangroves in these areas should remain untouched as any interference thereof will do more harm than good, the natural process will allow their clean-up over a period of time,” said the DEA in a press release.
In a separate investigation the DEA has stated that the fire at the Sapref Refinery on Friday, 17 April did not affect the harbour as the spill was contained inland. “The DEA was duly alerted of the incident and containment and clean-up measures are continuing.”
