LOUISIANA is a long way from Langebaan, but the environmental disaster that unfolded in the Gulf of Mexico following the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig has important lessons for SA and its neighbours.
It is estimated at least 4,1-million barrels of crude oil gushed into the ocean over the 87 days it took to stem the flow from the damaged wellhead. That is 16 times more oil than was spilled into the sea by the oil tanker, Exxon Valdez, which ran aground off the Alaskan coast in 1989, causing immense damage to marine and coastal environments.
Many will remember the devastation caused by the sinking of the iron- ore carrier, Treasure, off SA’s Melkbosstrand in 2000. About 1400 tons of heavy fuel oil leaked from the Treasure, prompting a massive seabird rescue operation that saw about 39000 penguins, cormorants and gulls cleaned and rehabilitated, or moved away from breeding colonies until the oil slick had dissipated.
Although the oil as well as gas industry in SA is small compared with the Gulf of Mexico, our country is situated at the interface of the Atlantic and Indian oceans and is an important stop on one of the oldest navigation routes in the world. About 120-million tons of oil pass around the Cape every year; another 19-million tons of crude oil are imported to SA each year.
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It is estimated at least 4,1-million barrels of crude oil gushed into the ocean over the 87 days it took to stem the flow from the damaged wellhead. That is 16 times more oil than was spilled into the sea by the oil tanker, Exxon Valdez, which ran aground off the Alaskan coast in 1989, causing immense damage to marine and coastal environments.
Many will remember the devastation caused by the sinking of the iron- ore carrier, Treasure, off SA’s Melkbosstrand in 2000. About 1400 tons of heavy fuel oil leaked from the Treasure, prompting a massive seabird rescue operation that saw about 39000 penguins, cormorants and gulls cleaned and rehabilitated, or moved away from breeding colonies until the oil slick had dissipated.
Although the oil as well as gas industry in SA is small compared with the Gulf of Mexico, our country is situated at the interface of the Atlantic and Indian oceans and is an important stop on one of the oldest navigation routes in the world. About 120-million tons of oil pass around the Cape every year; another 19-million tons of crude oil are imported to SA each year.
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