Technology
Enemalta denies oil leak in Marsa
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 5, 2008 - 8:58:46 AM

The Enemalta Corporation has issued a statement in which it categorically denies that there has been an oil leak in a pipeline and that this leak was just covered as stated by the Marsa Mayor when oil seeped near Marsa’s Regatta Club slipway.

The Corporation stated that it “did everything possible to contain the seepage of oil which had soaked into the ground following a pipeline leak about 15 years ago and tried to cause minimal inconvenience to Marsa residents.  Enemalta did take preventive action at the time and even now the Corporation has kept an open channel of communication between Enemalta’s officials and the local council.”

On Wednesday, the Marsa Local Council gave a press conference during which it said that there is an underground oil leak discovered near Marsa’s Regatta Club slipway following excavation work on Monday September 1st.

Enemalta said that in February, whilst works were being carried out at the Marsa Regatta Club slipway, a small amount of oil seeped into the sea.  “Enemalta Corporation on that date took immediate action and contracted a private contractor to clean this small oil spill and to investigate the source of the oil.  The Malta Maritime Authority and MEPA were immediately informed and officials from both authorities where present to supervise operations.” the statement continued.
 
According to the Corporation, the seepage originated from oil which had seeped into the ground following an old leak on a pipeline in the early 1990s. The broken pipeline was discovered at the time, repaired and subsequently replaced. However minimal amount of oil was absorbed by the rocks. When public roads workers started the open slipway, they discovered the oil earlier this year, Enemalta immediately took action about this too.
 
Enemalta also said that this pipeline has not been used since then. “It has been flushed and does not contain oil. Only after confirming that the source of the oil was not a leak in a pipeline, but the result of an old leak in the 1990’s and after discussing the matter with the Marsa Local Council did Enemalta Corporation issue permission to resurface the slipway and surrounding area.” the statement concluded.



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