Monrovia, Liberia – The management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company says it is investigating the cause of a ‘minor spillage’ of Fuel Oil at its Petroleum Storage Terminal on the Bushrod Island.
Managing Director, Marie Urey Coleman told ELBC the spillage occurred Monday morning while a vessel was loading fuel to one of the storage facilities.
Madam Coleman said about three thousand gallons spilled over during the loading and clarified that no storage facility is damaged as was reported on social media Monday morning.
The situation resulted to an early morning scramble for fuel oil by some residents of surrounding communities.
Initial suggestion and report on social media were that an oil tanker has busted leading to massive spillage into the water behind the Sethi Brothers Compound in Clara Town and other communities along the river in Vai Town, Bushrod.
But MD Coleman has dismissed reports of any damage at the facility noting that all active storage facilities are in tight and safe.
Dozens of residents were seen with gallons and buckets trying to fetch fuel oil from the water. “We are getting the fuel oil out by using this sponge. The sponge can suck and separate the Fuel oil from the water” one of the men told a team of ELBC Reporters.
Meanwhile the Environmental Protection Agency, National Fire Service, the Coast Guard, National Port Authority and the LPRC have launched an investigation and an environmental impact assessment of the incident and a full report to be released soon.
