Thailand: Oil spill threatens coastal coral reefs
Crude oil slicks from the oil spill on Sunday near the main beach resort of Pattaya have threatened coral reefs and tourism, and suggested that Thai Oil Plc was too early and too optimistic in announcing the spill was contained, official Thai News Agency reported.
Slicks from that 20,000-litre 'leak' at the Thai Oil delivery pipeline is endangering coral around Koh Khang Khao off Chon Buri province. It also calls into question the long-term viability of such deliveries, and the ability of Thai Oil and its contractors to safety co-exist with the needs of Thailand's environment.
Government authorities have applied chemical dispersants to push layers of oil beneath the ocean surface. That was the opening bid in keeping coral reefs and marine life safe, and prevent masses of oil from coagulating on one of the few remaining reefs in the province.
The company assured both the government and the public that the problem was contained. The possibility of an endangered reef is hardly encouraging, TNA quoted an unnamed environmental observer as saying.
Slicks from that 20,000-litre 'leak' at the Thai Oil delivery pipeline is endangering coral around Koh Khang Khao off Chon Buri province. It also calls into question the long-term viability of such deliveries, and the ability of Thai Oil and its contractors to safety co-exist with the needs of Thailand's environment.
Government authorities have applied chemical dispersants to push layers of oil beneath the ocean surface. That was the opening bid in keeping coral reefs and marine life safe, and prevent masses of oil from coagulating on one of the few remaining reefs in the province.
The company assured both the government and the public that the problem was contained. The possibility of an endangered reef is hardly encouraging, TNA quoted an unnamed environmental observer as saying.
