Kuwait’s Environmental Public Authority announced on Wednesday control over an oil spill off the coast of Ras Al-Julaia, following the activation of the national plan to combat marine oil pollution. According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs at the Authority, Abdullah Al-Zaidan, reported that upon receiving notification of an oil slick in the sea approximately 6 kilometers from the coastline, the Authority activated the plan to implement necessary measures and prevent the spill from reaching vital coastal facilities.
Al-Zaidan added that the Kuwait National Petroleum Company managed to contain and combat the oil spill at sea, ensuring that no oil reached the beaches opposite the monitoring area. He also mentioned that coordination with the Marine Environmental Protection Organization involved using satellite imagery to determine the extent and range of the oil spill. The source of the oil slick is currently unknown, and further studies are being conducted to ascertain potential sources.
Kuwait Oil Company confirmed that the observed oil patches are not the result of any of its operations in the area, particularly within the marine exploration project.
