Public rush to collect oil spillage in Chemu Lagoon

Some young men and children in Tema on Monday had a field day doing brisk business when they collected oil that had spilled on the surface of the Chemu Lagoon at the Tema Fishing Harbour for sale to drivers and canoe owners.

They have, since dawn, been doing brisk business and as at 1200 hours they had collected more than 50 gallons. They were selling it for 10,000 cedis per a gallon.

A young man who refused to give his name told the GNA that the oil was from one of Tema Oil Refinery's (TOR) pipelines and that it had leaked throughout the night.

He said used foam to collect the oil and then separate it from the water to get clean oil.

When contacted at the refinery Mr Kwatelai Quartey, General Manager of the Health Safety and Environment of TOR, admitted that the oil came from the refinery.

He said the leakage had been stopped but said he did not know the cause and that TOR was investigating.

Mr Quartey said the oil on the surface of the Lagoon was still useful to them because it could be refined again.
He said what the people were scooping in the Lagoon was dirty oil and it could be dangerous and advised against its usage.

Source: GNA