Oil Spill in the Arctic region of Russia

Russia declared state of emergency after oil spilled into Ambarnaya river. The surface of the river turned crimson red.

Highlights

The Ambarnaya river slows into environmentally sensitive Arctic Ocean.

The Thermoelectric power plant located at Norilsk has been built on a permafrost. The permafrost has weakened due to climate change and increase in temperature. This led to the sinking of the pillars that supported the fuel tank to sink. The loss of containment led to 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil into the Ambarnaya river.

The river has drifted 12 km on its surface since its leak.

Environmental damages

The Environmentalists say that the river will become difficult to clean. The river will take decades to return to its previous state. It however does not include atmospheric damages and soil pollution The World wide Fund recorded the oil spill as the second largest oil leak in the world. The incident is being compared to Alaska’s 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster.

Exxon Valdez Disaster

The Exxon Valdez Disaster occurred in 1989 when an oil tanker struck Prince William Sound Reef in Alaska. Around 10.8 million gallons of crude oil spilled over. This is till date considered one of the worst oil spills in history.

The region is rich in salmon, seals, sea otters and sea birds.

Ambarnaya river

The Ambarnaya river flows in Siberial in northerly direction in Lake Pyasino. Fishing is no longer possible in the river as it is heavily polluted due to mining in Norilsk.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2020