TOR PIPELINE BURSTS ( MARCH 3RD, PAGE 24)

Story: Rose Hayford Darko , Tema .

The largest of the pipelines carrying crude oil from the port to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) got burst on Friday draining off large quantities of the product into the Chemu drain which runs behind the refinery causing an estimated loss of about 2000 gallons of crude.
The Chemu drain which served as an outlet for flow of water from up town through the industrial area to the Chemu Lagoon and finally into the sea was dried up at the time of the spillage .
Observers were of the view that such unexpected spillages could pose danger to industries and companies situated along the drain .
According to some observers who were among the first to arrive at the scene of the spillage , the product was found flowing freely from the pipelines onto the shoulders of the drain and therefore a report was made to the TOR authorities .
As a result of the report ,the Management personnel of TOR responded promptly and rushed to the site during which technicians from the refinery immediately made efforts to arrest the situation to avert any disaster that the product could cause to the refinery and the public .
Fire tenders were used to cordon the area while police personnel took positions to prevent people from attempting to collect the spilt crude .
Speaking to the media later the Security Services Manager of the TOR , Captain ( rtd ) Edward Coffie explained that the burst was caused by a technical failure of one of the joint components of the conveying pipelines.
He was optimistic that the burst will not have any adverse technical effect on the refinery and its operations .
He gave assurance that the TOR technicians had taken sufficient precautions to avert any danger that the burst could cause to human life and property .
Captain (rtd ) Coffie disclosed that the drained crude would be scooped with a pumping machine for recycling .
Throughout the weekend technicians were found busily working on the pipelines, fastening the bolts and nuts at the joints of the pipelines .
They hoped to restore the situation immediately for work to continue at the refinery without any problems .
As on Sunday the spilt crude was heavy in the gutter were the drain occurred but because of the security measures put in place , no intruder was found attempting to collect it .
The burst on Friday brings to two spillage at the refinery this year with the first occurring on 2nd January 2008 when crude was drained from one of the refinery’s under ground pipes .

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