Oil Spill Threatens Gulf of Thailand Beaches

An oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand caused by a pipe leak at an offshore platform raises concern about possible adverse impacts on the environment.

More than 70 tonnes of crude oil have spilled into the sea following a leak in a crude-oil pipe at an offshore platform operated by PTT Global Chemical, a subsidiary of Thailand's national petroleum company PTT, reports ANN.

Citing a statement by PTT Global Chemical, ANN informs that the leak of a crude transport pipe with a 16-inch diameter took place shortly before 7am [Saturday] from a single-point mooring, about 20 kilometres southeast of the Map Ta Phut deep-sea port in Rayong. Further, that the leak had been plugged and that booms were in use to try and contain the spill.

Source: Asia News Network (ANN)