China : A 150 000 liter oil spill from a pipeline leakage

150 000 liters of diesel fuel spilled into the waters of two tributaries of the Huang He Wednesday, December 30. Hidden to the public by the Chinese authorities, the information has been revealed only last weekend.

After repeated refusals of China to propose reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions, being victims of numerous environmental pollution, having despised human rights, being responsible of the stalling negotiations in Copenhagen, and above all the environmental scandals, the country could well do without another such disaster.

Pipeline Rupture

At the origin of this 150 000 liters oil spill is a negligence by a "third party" during the construction of the pipeline of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The two polluted rivers, Chishui and Wei have therefore had to share 150 000 liters of diesel oil, estimating 100 000 liters for the Wei tributary. Refusing to relate figures, the Xinhua news agency has preferred describing the situation as a “massive pollution”.

"Because of this incident, the Chishui was seriously polluted and for Wei rather seriously," said the government of Shaanxi Province. The pollution is at Level 5, the most serious on the scale of China's pollution assessment. Since Sunday, the government has encouraged CNPC to have recourse to all possible means. 700 men have worked hard to contain and avoid any further spill.

Insufficient means

Huang He, long of 5 460 kilometers, and crossing the great northern plain of China, supplies drinking water for millions of Chinese. In China, where 70% of lakes and rivers are contaminated, the pollution has a major role on the health of the increasing figure of 200 million people regularly deprived of drinking water. In order to dam up the river, and avoid the 5.5 million inhabitants that make up the area to consume contaminated water, canals have been dug to divert clean water, booms have been installed and solidifying agents have been injected in order to contain the spill.

These efforts have unfortunately been insufficient. Since January 4, pollution has gained ground on the Yellow River at 8 kilometers per hour. Already undermined by a very large industrial pollution, the Yellow River is also experiencing drought. Will the Chinese residents have to suffer furthermore the disastrous policy of their government on ecology ? 

Tags: China, pollution, pipeline, diesel, oil, water, Huang He, Yellow river, contamination, ecology