Toxic dispersants allegedly used in Timor Sea oil spill

Australia contaminates Indonesia sea with toxic chemicals
Antara 31 Oct 10;

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has sprayed the Timor Sea with dispersants containing highly toxic chemicals to sink the oil spill from the Montara oil field, a non-governmental organization said.

Ferdi Tanoni, director of the Kupang-based West Timor Care Foundation said on Sunday information on the matter came from reports of a meeting between the
Australian Senate and AMSA held in Canberra last week.

The chemicals that had been sprayed was said to be one of the world`s most dangerous chemicals, Tanoni added, and actually had already been banned.

After the incident, Tanoni said, the foundation has received reports on the death of eight people and 30 poisonous cases after the consumption of fish in the waters around the contaminated areas.

The foundation was the only Indonesian NGO that has filed a legal action with the Australian independent investigation commission after the oil spill caused by the explosion on the Montara oil rig in the West Atlas block that has contaminated the Timor Sea on August 21, 2009.

Tanoni said that the Australian Senate had asked the organization for comments on the use of the toxic dispersant for discussion in Canberra. The Green party of Australia had sent him a 20-page letter asking for comments on the incident.

"We have quickly answered the letter by sending evidence via electronic mail on Friday (Oct. 22) to the office of Green party in Canberra," he said.

Tanoni also hoped President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will raise the issue in his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard who is scheduled to visit Indonesia on November 1 and 2.

The foundation proposes the setting up of an independent investigation team to verify the case, Tanoni said.

The case was said to be serious both financially and physically to the people living close to the contaminated areas as many fish have disappeared while the remaining are poisonous.(*)

Australia See Eye-to-Eye on Timor Spill
Eras Poke, Fidelis E Satriastanti & Ismira Lutfia Jakarta Globe 3 Nov 10;

Jakarta. Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday that Indonesia and Australia shared the same position on the Timor Sea oil spill because both countries were claiming compensation from the operator of the oil well in question.

The spill was the result of a blowout at the Montara wellhead platform in the Timor Sea, off the northern coast of Australia, in August 2009.

The leak was plugged 74 days later and created a large oil slick that polluted Indonesian waters.

The well, located 690 kilometers west of Darwin, is operated by PTTEP Australasia, a subsidiary of Thailand’s PTT Exploration & Production.

The Indonesian government said the spill affected 78,000 square kilometers of Indonesian waters and was seeking Rp 22 trillion ($2.44 billion) in compensation from PTTEP.

Activists have also accused the operator of using highly toxic chemicals as dispersants to clear the oil.

Marty said that while the government was aware of the dispersants’ use, it had not been formally discussed during Tuesday’s meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

“However, during our informal talks, the Australian delegation reiterated that the dispersant met national standards and would not create new problems,” Marty said on the sidelines of a reception for the Australian leader.

He added that the Australian delegation was prepared to explain that the dispersants used would not pose a health or environmental risk.

Yudhoyono did not address the toxicity issue, saying only that his administration had pressed for greater cooperation on preventing environmental damage as a result of the spill and ensuring that compensation was awarded to “those entitled to it.”

Meanwhile, activists said the dispersants were highly toxic and had left eight people dead and at least 30 ill.

Ferdi Tanoni, director of the West Timor Care Foundation (YTPB), said a hearing between the Australian Senate and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had revealed that the dispersants used on the spill were among “the world’s most dangerous chemicals.”

He said the AMSA acknowledged using 184,113 liters of chemicals dispersants, including Corexit, a known fetal toxin that breaks down blood cells and causes blood and kidney disorders.

This dispersant has already been banned by some nations, including the United Kingdom.

“This is a very serious human issue because since AMSA sprayed the oil with the dispersant, people consuming fish caught in the Timor Sea off East Nusa Tenggara have been falling sick, even dying,” Ferdi said on Sunday.

“Within 95 hours of spraying, fish died in large numbers.”

Separately, Masnellyarti Hilman, head of the government’s advocacy team seeking compensation, said they had already included the effects from the dispersant in their official claim to PTTEP.

“We’ve noted that their use of these chemicals has caused pollution and environmental destruction,” she said.

“We also have reports of dead fish in the area. However, we haven’t studied any fish samples [to prove they were poisoned by dispersants] or how it affects humans or causes deaths.”

She also said the team had not received reports from the local administration about deaths linked to the dispersants. “If there were, we’ll certainly follow up on the matter,” Masnellyarti said.

She added the two variants of Corexit used — Corexit EC9500 and Corexit EC9527A — were listed as dangerous chemicals by the US Environmental Protection Agency.