PTTGC faces Samet spill legal action
Ao Phrao slick a marine disaster, governor says
State agencies are preparing to file a lawsuit against PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) for compensation over the environmental damage caused by the oil spill from its offshore pipeline on Saturday.
The slick had spread across Ao Phrao on the resort island of Samet in eastern Rayong early yesterday and was threatening nearby marine sanctuaries.
Authorities and more than 500 PTT employees have been struggling to prevent the slick spreading at the beach. They have tried to contain the spill, which has stretched almost 1km along the bay, using containment booms to prevent further environmental damage in the area.
Rayong governor Wichit Chartpaisit declared a marine disaster at the bay.
Department of Pollution Control chief, Wichien Jungrungruang, said his agency is working with the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Marine and Coastal Resources, and the Marine departments as well as local administrative organisations to assess the spill impact, especially on the marine ecological system.
‘‘PTT has to take full responsibility for the incident. Since there are many state agencies involved in this case, we are considering which should be the one to file the lawsuit against the firm. Basically, the Marine Department may act as a plaintiff,’’ Mr Wichien said.
An initial survey by the department has indicated the oil spill has affected coral reefs in shallow water and it could take more than just a few years to rehabilitate the affected areas.
Thon Thamrong-nawasawat, a marine science expert at Kasetsart University’s faculty of fisheries, said most coral reef in Ao Phrao is hump coral which grows very slowly at 1-4 centimetres a year.
The oil slick has also affected small fish living among the coral. These species cannot swim far from their habitats and were among several marine animals in danger.
‘‘Ao Phrao is the most important coral site on the western side of Koh Samet. We don’t know how long it will take to recover from the impacts of this spill and how much damage has been caused there.’’
Energy Minister Pongsak Rattanapongpaisan said he has told PTTGC board chairman Prasert Bunsumpun to head the team investigating the cause of the oil spill. Mr Prasert said the firm will do its best to contain the spill within three days.
‘‘We know there was a leak from the PVC-coated undersea pipe that has only been in use for a year. Normally, this pipe has a two-year lifespan,’’ he said.
PTTGC chief executive Anon Sirisaengtaksin insisted that about 50,000 litres, or the amount of crude oil contained in one and a half road tankers, was spilled, saying the amount was calculated from the size of the pipeline. ‘‘Once the leak occurred, valves at both ends of the pipe were automatically switched off, so we estimate the extent of the spill is what was contained in the pipeline,’’ he said.
‘‘It was beyond our expectation because we thought we could mitigate the damage quickly but it spread to other areas,’’ Mr Anon said. ‘‘As the head of PTTGC, I accept the blame for causing damage to the environment and will pay for the damage,’’ he said.
The company has insurance coverage of US$50 million with Dhipaya Insurance.
PTTGC executive vice-president Porntep Butniphant said the oil slick at Ao Phrao amounted to only 10% or 5,000 litres of the total 50,000 litres spilt.
Democrat MP for Rayong Satit Pituthecha was not convinced, saying it was probably much more than 50,000 litres.
Mr Satit said if the company’s figures were correct, then the amount of dispersants which authorities have been using should have been enough to clean up the spill. Instead, the oil slick has spread over a large area, he said.
PTTGC defended not only the company itself but also third parties including the Royal Thai Navy, the Harbour Department, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, the Pollution Control Department, and Rayong authorities who took part in calculating the oil amount.
Environment Minister Vichet Kasemthongsri visited the area and promised clean-up operations would have the beach back to normal within 15 days.