Satellite Imagery Shows Thai Oil Spill Dispersing

August 2, 2013

PTTGC, the company responsible for the oil spill which closed the Ao Prao beach at the Thai tourist resort on the Koh Samet island, yesterday issued a statement in which it said it has “been mitigating the incident by collecting oil from the sea surface, and spraying oil-spill dispersants both by ships and navy’s aircrafts.”

Approximately 50 tons of oil was spilled into the Gulf of Thailand from a flexible hose at the Single Point Mooring (SPM) while the company was discharging crude oil from a vessel to a refinery on July 27, 2013.

PTTGC further says that approximately 300 navy members are on site supporting the clean-up operation, joined by more than 1,500 from volunteers from various organisations.

A satellite image taken this morning by Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency GISTDA speaks in favor of PTTGC. The image shows that the oil slick has been reduced, and it is now almost invisible to the satellites.

However, the news is hardly a comforting one for the local tourist community. Tourists have left the Ao Prao beach, and also, according to sources, other tourists, not wanting, to risk anything are leaving other beaches, unaffected by the spill disperse.

Earlier this week the country’s tourism Minister Somsak Phurisisak told Reuters, “We’re working to move visitors to other locations if they want to move. I’m very concerned, I didn’t think this spill would impact tourism in such an extreme way.”

Furthermore, Greenpeace is now demanding that PTT Global Chemical be held financially liable for the cost of cleaning and restoring the natural environment and is mobilising the public through an online petition.

“It’s time for the Thai government to review its energy policy and put an end to oil drilling and exploration in the Gulf of Thailand,” said Greenpeace in a statement.