A Transnet Durban to Heidelberg pipeline fuel incident has led to a major diesel spillage into the environment in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Transnet Pipelines chief executive Michelle Phillips said thieves had tampered with the pipeline and caused a “massive diesel spillage”.
She said Transnet Pipelines National Control Centre had detected a drop in pressure on the multi-product pipeline between Durban and Heidelberg. “The security tactical teams were dispatched to site to investigate the incident.”
It was confirmed that a block valve chamber had been tampered with, resulting in a massive diesel spillage into the environment.
“The emergency teams were immediately deployed to the site to contain and recover the product,” said Phillips.
However, she said the diesel had also now migrated to the Meul River where environmental teams were doing their utmost to contain the contamination.
“In the past year, Transnet has implemented various security interventions to address the fuel theft attempts, which have yielded positive results and reduced the number of incidents by 50%, compared to prior years.
“We continue to work with law enforcement agencies to stop this criminal activity and keep the pipelines and surrounding communities safe,” said Phillips.
“We appeal to all strategic role-players in the industry, including petroleum retailers and members of the public, to refrain from buying fuel from unregistered traders. Joint special operations have been mobilised to investigate illegal activities relating to fuel theft, and any persons involved will face the full might of the law.”
Phillips warned that the inherent dangers of tampering with high-pressure petroleum pipelines during fuel theft incidents had led to fire and other asset damage, as well as environmental incidents, with high remediation costs.
“Some of the incidents have also resulted in serious injuries and/or fatalities as the petroleum products transported in the pipeline are considered hazardous.”
She called on people who live near to or drive past the pipelines, which traverse many rural, semi-rural and urban areas, to report any suspicious activities, especially at night. This includes incidents of bakkies and fuel tankers spotted in the area of the block valve chambers or near pipeline markers. Call the following toll-free number to report suspected fuel pipeline theft: 0800 203 843.
