Russian Oil Spill: Putin Declares Emergency

Norilsk, Russia —(Map)

Russian president, Vladimir Putin has declared a state of emergency in part of Siberia following a massive oil spill at a power plant last week. The slow response to the spill has created a serious environmental problem.

The oil spill is one of the largest in Russia in recent years. It began on May 29, when a huge fuel tank at a power plant near the city of Norilsk collapsed. As a result, nearly 20,000 tons of diesel fuel* spilled into Ambarnaya river, the Daldykan river, and a local water reservoir.

Russian president, Vladimir Putin has declared a state of emergency in part of Siberia following a massive oil spill at a power plant last week. The slow response to the spill has created a serious environmental problem.

The spill has colored large areas of the two rivers a deep red. The oil has spread more than 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) down the Ambarnaya river.

Norilsk is far north, above the Arctic Circle. Because it’s so far north, many things in Norilsk are built on permafrost. Permafrost is a layer of ground in Arctic and Antarctic areas that remains permanently frozen.

But as the world is warming because of climate change,  the permafrost in many areas is beginning to melt. Norilsk Nickel, the company that owns the power plant, says that one of the supports which held up the fuel tank collapsed because of thawing permafrost.

Norilsk Nickel, the company that owns the power plant, says that one of the supports which held up the fuel tank collapsed because of thawing permafrost. Above, a fuel tank at the Norilsk Nickel power plant.

Mr. Putin, who declared the state of emergency on Wednesday, said that he wasn’t told about the spill until two days after it had happened. Mr. Putin is reported to be upset that he only learned about the event after pictures of it were posted on social media. 

The Russian leader has asked for an investigation into the spill to learn more about what actions were taken to control the spill, and when those actions were taken. The man in charge of the Norilsk Nickel plant has been arrested for his part in the spill.

Mr. Putin, shown above in a meeting about the oil spill, declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. He has asked for an investigation into the spill to learn more about what actions were taken to control the spill, and when those actions were taken.

There are now barriers floating on the rivers to try to prevent the oil from spreading further. The barriers appear to have kept the oil from spreading to a nearby lake. But so far, Norilsk Nickel has only managed to remove 340 tons of the spilled oil.

The delay in reporting the spill seems to have made the environmental damage much worse. The oil has now spread over 135 square miles (350 square kilometers). With faster action, more of the oil could have been contained.

There are now barriers floating on the rivers to try to prevent the oil from spreading further. The barriers appear to have kept the oil from spreading to a nearby lake, but they can’t keep the dangerous chemicals from the diesel fuel from dissolving in the water.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which helped spread the word about the spill, is watching the situation carefully. Aleksey Knizhnikov, who works for the WWF, says that many dangerous chemicals from the diesel fuel are dissolving in the water. That’s something the barriers can’t stop.

There are worries that the oil spill could have long-term effects in the area, including killing fish, birds, and other animals.

Cleaning up the spill will be a challenge because there aren’t many roads in the area, and the river is too shallow for large boats. One expert says the cleanup could cost as much as $1.5 billion and take over five years.

Cleaning up the spill will be a challenge because there aren’t many roads in the area, and the river is too shallow for large boats. One expert says the cleanup could cost as much as $1.5 billion and take over five years.

* 20,000 tons of diesel fuel is about 5,547,610 gallons or 21,000,000 liters.