Topics Covered: Conservation related issues.
Oil spill in Russia’s Arctic region
What to study?
For Prelims and Mains: Region where the incident took place and it’s impact on environment and biodiversity.
What happened?
Russia has declared a state of emergency after a power plant fuel leak in its Arctic region caused 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil to escape into a local river, turning its surface crimson red.
Where the incident took place?
The oil has been discharged into Ambarnaya river. The river is part of a network that flows into the environmentally sensitive Arctic Ocean.
Emergency measures are announced within Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Region, located in the vast and sparsely populated Siberian peninsula. The power plant is located near the Region’s Norilsk city, around 3000 km northeast of Moscow.
How did the leak happen?
The thermoelectric power plant at Norilsk is built on permafrost, which has weakened over the years owing to climate change. This caused the pillars that supported the plant’s fuel tank to sink., leading to a loss of containment on May 29.
Reports said that around 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil was released into the Ambarnaya river, which has since drifted 12 km on its surface.
What has Russia done so far?
- A probe has been ordered into the incident.
- Boom obstacles were placed in the river, but they were unable to contain the oil because of shallow waters.
- So far, three criminal proceedings have been launched, and the head of the power plant has been detained.
- The state of emergency declared would bring in extra forces and federal resources for the clean-up efforts.
What is the extent of the damage?
Environmentalists have said the river would be difficult to clean, given its shallow waters and remote location, as well as the magnitude of the spill.
This is the second-largest known oil leak in modern Russia’s history in terms of volume.
Damages to the Arctic waterways could be at least 6 billion rubles (over $76 million). This excludes atmospheric damage due to greenhouse gases and soil pollution. The installed buoys will only help collect a small part of the pollution and nearly all the diesel fuel will remain in the environment.
What does the oil spill mean for permafrost?
Ground that remains frozen for two or more consecutive years is considered permafrost.
Permafrost is composed of rock, soil, sediments and varying amounts of ice that bind elements together, according to the university. Some permafrost is frozen for tens, hundreds or even thousands of years.
Norilsk is constructed on permafrost and there is a threat to its existence because of melting ice due to climate change.
The diesel leak can have a serious impact on the local ecology. The Ambarnaya river flows to the Pyasino lake and river Pyasina, which connects it to the Kara sea, a part of the Arctic Ocean.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Locate the following on map:
- Pyasino lake.
- Kara sea.
- Ambarnaya river.
- Countries in the Arctic circle.
- Arctic council.
- International whaling commission.
Mains Link:
The oil spill in Russia’s Arctic region has become a cause for worry to the environment. Examine.
Sources: the Hindu.
