Major oil spill from Syrian energy project, Turkish and Cypriot agencies on alert

Damascus: – Thousands of barrels of oil have been spilt from Syria’s energy projects, and oil spills are spreading into the Mediterranean Sea. Neighbouring countries, Turkey and Cyprus, have put their agencies on alert. The European Union also has expressed concern over the oil spill in Syria. The federation said this posed a threat to marine resources as well as security. The oil spill also raises the issue of the safety of Syria’s thermal power projects.

Last week, on August 23, there were reports of an oil spill at the Banias thermal power plant on the west coast of Syria. But the Syrian authorities sent sponges and meagre equipment, saying the oil spill was small. However, locals said that the oil spill was large and could not be stopped by sponges and rubber hoses.

Its intensity was revealed two days ago when satellite photographs of the Banias project and the oil spill were released. US analysts say that the spill is nearly 800 square kilometres which is equal to the size of New York City. Cypriot officials estimate that at least 20,000 barrels of oil spilt from the Syrian project. It was feared that the oil was coming towards Cyprus.

It was said that the spill had reached just seven kilometres from the coast of Cyprus. But with the flow of waves in the Mediterranean Sea, it is claimed that the spill is moving towards Turkey. This has put the Turkish agencies on alert. Turkey has sent two ships to tackle the oil spill to the Mediterranean Sea.

The European Union has expressed concerns over the thousands of barrels of the oil spill. The Union has said that the oil spill in the Mediterranean Sea has affected all the countries in the region. At the same time, environmental groups are claiming that this will impact the environment for the next 15 years. Syria has been criticized for failing to anticipate an oil spill. However, the question of the security of the Syrian project has come on the anvil.