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Massive oil spill in Arctic
One of the largest fuel spills in the Russian Arctic may have been caused in part following ground subsidence due to thawing permafrost, it has been reported. On 29 May 2020 some 21,000 tonnes of diesel leaked from a collapsed tank at an Arctic power station run by nickel and palladium producer Norilsk Nickel, draining into rivers and the subsoil.
Greenpeace has compared the incident to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska.
A huge clean-up operation is underway, although it is being hampered by strong winds.
Three senior managers at the Russian power plant are reported to have been detained in connection with the incident. They have been held on suspicion of environmental regulation violations and may face up to five years in prison.
News Item details
Journal title: Petroleum Review
Countries: Arctic -
Subjects: Environment, Environmental pollution, Oil spills
