Hundreds of people are struggling to collect the fuel oil (FO) that spilled into the Tra Khuc River in the central province of Quang Ngai Province, from a sugar factory that is being dismantled for relocation.

The FO had begun to leak on April 20, from the Quang Ngai Sugar Joint Stock Company. The company has admitted that 14.5 tons of black FO had spilled out, but blamed the spill on a unit in charge of dismantling the plant for carelessly breaking a valve from the container.

A huge amount of oil is stagnated in the company’s canals. If it is not collected quickly, it may all run to the Tra Khuc River when it rains.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Ngai province collected five samples of oil at different locations on the Tra Khuc River to analyze the pollution.

The department asked the sugar company to urgently collect the oil on the Tra Khuc River, as well as in its discharging canals while preventing the oil from running from its canals to the river.

Environmental police are investigating the case.

In late April 2010, this sugar producer discharged waste water into the Tra Khuc river, causing massive deaths of fish. According to local authorities, the total losses caused by the act to people who live along the Tra Khuc River was VND4 billion (over $200,000). The firm was told to compensate the victims, but it has not completed the duty.

Oil spill dyes the Tra Khuc River in black (photo):

This truck was used to serve sugarcane growing. It is now used to collect oil.

Sawdust is scattered on the surface of the dredging canal near the

FO tank to prevent oil from running to the river.

Officials from the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment and

environmental police officers inspect the site.

Oil is everywhere.

The FO tank which is believed to be the source of the oil spill.

The valve of the tank which was said to be “stolen” is covered by plastic.

PV