CAY BAY–There is an urgent need to address and solve the reoccurring oil spills from the power plant of utilities company GEBE, says Nature Foundation, after a “significant” quantity of oil was again found floating on the waters of Cay Bay on Tuesday morning.
The Coast Guard and Department of Maritime Affairs were informed by the Foundation and an ongoing investigation. The Foundation will also send its initial findings and dive reports to the authorities in hope that sanctions will result for the responsible parties.
Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets said the oil was “possibly due to an overflow at the GEBE Power Plant.” Bervoets responded to reports of the spill with the Foundation’s patrol vessel Yellow Tail.
The Foundation will conduct survey dives to determine the extent of the damage from the oil spill and will monitor beaches to see if any oil washes ashore.
“It is very unfortunate that again we are faced with an introduction of a large amount of fuel in the water. These types of spills are serious issues and cause great harm to the environment, and to our economy in terms of harming tourism,” said Bervoets.
Assessment of the spill by the Foundation found that the oil slick stretched for some five kilometres in a west-south westerly direction. The spread pattern indicated that a large amount of oil was leaked. The oil slick could have been seen from the top of Cole Bay Hill stretching to the horizon.
Source: The Daily Herald Nature Foundation: Urgent need to address GEBE spills
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