Fuel oil from the 2013 spill being ‘destroyed’
FUEL oil collected from a spill that occurred off the coast of North Cyprus in 2013 is being “destroyed”, Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu announced.
Around 100 tonnes of fuel oil leaked from a ship while it was being transferred to the Kalecik power station run by Aksa Energy.
The fuel oil cleared up from the spill has been stored in barrels for the last eight years.
According to information provided by the Tourism and Environment Ministry, Kalecik power plant manager Şener Şentürk and Cihangir Tüm, a representative from a company called Gürdağ that has been tasked with the job of disposing of the waste, were present during a visit by Mr Ataoğlu and Environmental Protection Department head Emir Akyıllar to the power station facilities.
Mr Ataoğlu stated the importance of setting up and operating a “hazardous waste incineration facility” to dispose of fuel oil residues.
“Aksa has signed a protocol with Gürdağ for the disposal of the fuel oil waste in question and it will be disposed of at the Gürdağ Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility in accordance with legislation,” he said.
Mr Ataoğlu explained that the waste material would be
“transported safely to the Gürdağ Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility under the supervision of Environmental Protection Department personnel”.
He indicated that “previously there was no hazardous waste incineration facility in the country” and that “many attempts were made to send this waste abroad to be disposed of but no country would take it because of their legislation”.