Quang Nam’s oil spill reaction plan devised

Sea life, seafood production and the wider environment will be seriously threatened in oil spills

Quang Nam Province has over 120km of coast line, featuring rich natural resources and the Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve. The province could face the threat of oil spills due to its location near to the Dung Quat Oil Refinery. Sea life, seafood production and the wider environment will be seriously threatened in such an incident, especially the Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve. An oil spill in Quang Nam Province in 2007 caused huge damage to tourism, while the slow response and ineffective mitigation efforts led to high costs in treatment activities.

The Vietnam Petroleum Institute’s research team conducted the study to determine affected areas and likely directions oil would drift in based on various kinds of oil spill following each month and season in a year.

They have also used data and technical parameters from offshore oil fields and marine transport activities to assess oil spill risks. In addition, cartography and geographical information have been taken to deal with data from the environmental sensitivity map following each plan for the province’s coastal districts. Response strategies and steering committees will be established based on the results of the study in terms of environmental sensitivity indexes and prioritized areas.

The study has determined prioritized areas. Thanks to data collection and assessment, a research team has classified, handled and implemented data input to build specific map for each district. These specific maps will be used for the completed environmental sensitivity map.

The results of the study have also shown oil spill risks in Quang Nam Province and a research team has devised appropriate reaction solutions. The steering committee for oil spill reaction plan in each coastal district may mobilize military forces, students, organizations and fishermen to participate in activities. In addition, the steering committee may require support from the National Committee for Search and Rescue and the National Central Oil Spill Response Center.

Potential claims for oil spill damage was also included in the study. The Quang Nam People’s Committee will fully collect evidence in terms of oil spills in the affected districts to assess the level of pollution and damage, and then provide compensation.

Hai Nam