Lyttelton landslide and Mobil Terminal spill response

Update from Mobil Oil New Zealand
March 7 2014

Lyttelton landslide and Mobil Terminal spill response

ON SITE RESPONSE
. A response team continues to work on site at Mobil Lyttelton Terminal following a jet fuel spill from a tank damaged by a landslide due to severe storms.
. Mobil is continuing to pump out the jet fuel captured in the concrete walled containment area around the tank. The fuel is being pumped into another tank at the terminal.
. We are working as quickly as possible to pump all the jet fuel back into tanks and significant progress has been made with over half the fuel pumped out. Our focus continues to be completing this safely.
. We anticipate that it could take several more days to complete pumping the jet fuel in the containment area into storage tanks.
. This incident is unusual and caused by a rare weather event. We apologise that our clean-up operations are contributing to the disruption caused by the storm.

MARINE RESPONSE
. The leak of jet fuel to the harbour from the secondary containment area has been contained. Remaining traces of jet fuel in the drains are being captured by absorbent booms in the drains, and as an additional precaution a boom has been placed across the drain entry point into the harbour.
. We continue to work closely with the Harbour Master, who has the lead on the marine response. There are no ongoing on-water recovery activities.
. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Our priority continues to be to prevent any further release of fuel off-site.

TERMINAL OPERATIONS
. Fuel supply operations are continuing at the terminal. The terminal has a very important role in supplying fuel to the Canterbury Region and the South Island.
. Our supply organisation is working closely with our customers in relation to ongoing supply arrangements. There are currently no shortages in the Christchurch market.
. We have completed an inspection of the Woolston pipeline to ensure it did not suffer any damage in the storm. The pipeline was returned to operation on Thursday afternoon.
. We're focussed on managing the current issue and then will be in a better position to make further assessments of the damage to the two impacted tanks.

INVESTIGATION
. Mobil will conduct a full investigation when it is safe to do so, including establishing whether the landslide caused any damage to the bunding - this is currently unknown.

COMMUNITY HOTLINE

. Further information is available from Mobil's community hotline on 0800 777 979 during business hours.

ENDS

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