Oil spills threaten Thailand's eastern coast

BANGKOK, July 29 (TNA) - Concerned agencies have conducted a clean-up operation after 50 tonnes of crude oil leaked from a pipeline of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTGC) last Saturday and were approaching Samet Island's Phrao Beach in Thailand's eastern Rayong province last night. Rayong Governor Wichit Chartpaisit acknowledged on Monday that the wind had caused the spilled oil to spread over the coasts of Samet Island and Ban Phe Bay last night and PTTGC, a subsidiary of PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), Thailand's largest petroleum firm, had sent its officials to monitor the situation throughout the night. The provincial governor told reporters that the clean-up operation, including the spraying of oil-spill disposal, started on Sunday and it was able to clean up some of the crude spillovers on the sea surface; so, he contacted the agency concerned to send out ships to further clear the oil leaks. Meanwhile, over 300 military officers in Rayong and from nearby Chonburi province has been sent to help clear the crude spillovers on the sea surface since Tuesday morning. (TNA)