By Kebba Ansu Manneh
Over seventy thousand (70,000) litres of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) that spilled into the Marine Coast of River Gambia last week is yet to clean off the river, The Voice Newspaper can report.
Sources informed this medium that the spillage occurred during a discharged operation from the Vessel (MT FT STURLA) on Saturday, 28th May 2022, between the hours of 02.30am and 03.30am. Revealing further that since the incident occur no single actions has been taken to clean-up the spillage from the river.
One fisherman and a resident of Mandinary confirmed the spillage of Heavy Fuel Oil around the marine coast, disclosing that the spillage can be clearly seen flooding around the mangroves areas that are frequented by women oyster collectors.
“We are really concerned about this spillage as it may eventually lead to the death of fish and other marine resources if the spillage is not contained.
“Most of the people who make their living around the spillage are women who embark on oyster collection and have already started to notice the impact of the spillage,” the local fisherman anonymously told our reporter.
Buba Drammeh, another fisherman residing in Lamin town confirmed the spillage of the Heavy Fuel Oil now steadily moving towards the mangrove areas, adding that the spillage is clearly visible around Mandinary, Kerewan and Lamin Daranka.
He called on the government to do all they can to contain the spillage, observing that if efforts are not made the spillage will go out of hand to harm marine and fisheries resources.
An insider at the GamPetroleum Depot in Mandinary blamed his company for failing to report the matter on time, revealing that the spillage was due to a ruptured pipe that the management failed to repair or replace which has led to the spillage of seventy thousand eight hundred and sixty-five litres of Heavy Fuel Oil during discharge from the fuel ship.
He told this reporter that currently GamPetroleum has no capacity or equipment to do the clean-up of the spillage, observing that all the company can do for now is to hire an outsider company to do it.
Lamin Komma, Head of Coastal and Marine Environment at the National Environmental Agency (NEA) confirmed the spillage, noting that NEA is working hand in glove with key stakeholders to resolve the matter without delay.
According to him, an assessment of the spillage area has been concluded in collaboration with other stakeholders, noting that every effort is on the table to address this spillage that could have great impact on the life and livelihoods of the people of Mandinary and beyond.
The Head of Coastal and Marine environment failed to disclose when shall the clean-up of the spillage take place and if those held responsible will pay the price, but responding to this medium he noted that clean-up cannot be done anytime soon but assured that the law will take its course without mercy on those held responsible.