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Oil spill hits Angara River in Russia’s Irkutsk region

Petroleum products have spilled from Usolmash plant’s storm drain

IRKUTSK, July 18 (Itar-Tass) — Petroleum products have spilled from Usolmash plant’s storm drain into the Angara River, Russia’s Irkutsk region.

There was no malfunction at the plant. An oil spill covered an area of over 50 square meters, the regional emergencies department told Itar-Tass.

The Angara water intake structure has been shut down since January 2012. There was no threat for the population.

The town of Usolye-Sibirskoye receives water from a water intake system on the Belaya River. Water samples taken at the site of the oil leak and 1 kilometre downstream exceed maximally permissible concentration of hydrocarbons ten-fold.

Rescue teams take 150 meters of oil booms, one tonne of sorbing agents and a Sprut oil skimmer system to the affected area.

The incident is being investigated.

Last April 300 tonnes of diesel fuel spilled into the Angara River from another plant in Usolye-Sibirskoye, which blocked for one week a water intake system in the town of Svirsk located downstream.