Page 30 - SAPREF 50 year

“The successful remediation of the
site has been lauded by many in
the industry as well as the SAPREF shareholders. The whole remediation process is a great example of a project of this nature being handled with the responsibility, sensitivity and respect it deserves. – Rei”mar Fitschen
Pipelines and tanks at the remediation site.
Our pipelines, our lifelines
On 7 July 2001, a leak in the petrol line between the refinery and Island View became apparent. The leak was located under vacant land at the corner of Angelier and Tara Road on the Bluff. It was immediately repaired, but petrol had leaked into the ground and was trapped on top of the water table.
Adedicated response team was assembled straight away to manage the remediation of the site and to work closely with the authorities, local community, NGOs and other interested and affected parties.
The integrity of the other fuel lines to Island View and thus the security of supply to the country was immediately verified, and the team conducted an investigation into the cause of the leak.
Of equal concern was the safety of the residents in the area. To avoid disruption to the immediate neighbours near the main site entrance people were given the option to move to alternative accommodation for a while at SAPREF’s expense.
Several hundred wells were sunk very quickly after the leak was detected, and contractors began pumping the petrol out to holding tanks. Later, a soil vapour extraction method was applied. By 2006, about 1,5million
litres of petrol had been removed from the ground and from the site.
SAPREF’s site remediation included erecting a 2,4metre timber-slat wall on three sides of the site, the planting of indigenous trees and shrubs and the removal of alien vegetation. Three of the homes closest to the leak were bought from their owners.
Says Reimar Fitschen, Remediation Site Manager: “The successful remediation of the site has been lauded by many in the industry as well as the SAPREF shareholders. The whole remediation process is a great example of
a project of this nature being handled with the responsibility, sensitivity and respect it deserves.”
Shell’s Philippa Scott, the UK-based soil
and groundwater specialist for the project, concurs: “SAPREF took this complex matter very seriously and although it involved many long hours of work, it was a pleasure to support such a committed and innovative team. I
SAPREF: FUELLING SA FOR 50 YEARS
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