Russian oil spill disaster

Russian Arctic Oil Disaster - 15th June 2020

A big oil spill in Russia has released thousands of tonnes of oil into a river. On 29th May, a fuel tank at a Siberian power plant gave way, leaking oil into the area. It’s the most damaging oil spill to take place in the Russian Arctic.

Emergency teams are now trying to contain the oil. Workers in waterproof clothing use booms to collect the fuel on the surface of the water. Then, they pump the oil into tanks on the banks of the river.

Nornickel, the company operating the plant, believes climate change caused the fuel tank to collapse. The Arctic has had weeks of unusually warm weather, a possible effect of global warming. This has caused the permafrost to melt and weakened the fuel tank's supports.

Permafrost is the term used for ground that is permanently frozen. About half of Russia and most of Siberia, home to most of the country's oil, is permafrost.

However, environmental organisations have accused Nornickel of using climate change as an excuse. They say Nornickel hasn't maintained their equipment properly. Since the accident, over 20,000 tonnes of oil have polluted the Ambarnaya river and the surrounding land. The water has turned crimson from the reddish-brown fuel. The oil has reached a freshwater lake that is a major source of water for the region.

So far, the clean up operation has removed thousands of metres of contaminated soil. However, Siberian officials say the full recovery of the area will take years.