Diesel spill probe released
The spill that took almost three weeks to clean, leaving Groutville farmers outraged, is said to have been cleaned to the best of the plant's ability.
The investigation of the diesel spill caused by Avon peaking power plant into the Etete river almost two months ago, confirmed that the spill happened from a three- way-valve during the plants commissioning activities.
The spill that took almost three weeks to clean, leaving Groutville farmers outraged, is said to have been cleaned to the best of the plant’s ability.
Avon peaking power plant’s construction director, Pascal Bourdeaux said, “The leak happened from a three-way-valve at the V drain which is the upper part of the river, so the first action that was taken was to have the V drain cleaned out by having the infected soil removed so that the diesel does not spread further downstream. The second action was to put in booms, a floating system that contains the pollution and stops it from spreading into the water.”
“We have cleaned the river to the satisfaction of the farmers and the environmental department, however, we are still in the process of monitoring the situation,” he said.
However local farmer, Ashley Pillay avidly denied that he was satisfied with the clean-up.
“A few weeks ago I was asked to sign a document to state that there was a clean-up, which I did. However, I do not know how much of the diesel still remained on the surface of the water, which can not be seen by the naked eye.”
Dolphin Coast Conservancy chairman and Coast Watch member, Di Jones said previously that the overall damage would depend on the density of the spill.
Bourdeaux said he was unsure of how much of diesel was spilled but that it could have been hundreds of litres.
The Avon peaking power plant will produce a capacity of 680 megawatts generated by diesel turbines. The plant is in its final commissioning phase, with operations due to start in September.
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