IndianOil-TERI bio-remedy to contain oil spill
Mumbai   13-Aug-2010

The IndianOil's Research and Development Centre and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have jointly developed an indigenous bio- remediation technology for speedy and effective disposal of oil sludge and spills and have offered this bio- remediation technology for containing the oil spillage off Mumbai coast.

A team of senior scientists from IndianOil and TERI reached Mumbai on Thursday to assess the extent of oil spillage at the site and plan the remedial action. The course of action will be decided in consultation with the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board.

It may be noted that this bio-remediation technology has already been successfully and extensively applied at IndianOil's locations - refineries as well as marketing locations - jointly by IndianOil and TERI, through which over 25,000 tonnes of soil containing oil sludge has been bio-remediated. It may be recalled that in September 2009, a fully laden ship ( Black Rose) sank near Paradip port and on the invitation of Chairman, Paradip Port Trust, the IndianOil- TERI team formulated a stock of 1500 kg of special bacteria that was used to treat the spillage site on the shoreline.

The beach was restored in the shortest possible time with this technique and it became the first instance of success of usage of bacterial blend for marine application. Earlier, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Chaggan Bhujbal, Minister of Petroleum Murli Deora, Union Minister of Shipping, G K Vasan, and attended by the heads of Public Sector Oil companies, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, along with Director General Shipping, Defence & Coast Guard authorities, and other key officials reviewed the situation of oil spillage at the Mumbai Port, its impact on movement of oil tankers and effect on Mumbai shoreline, IndianOil Chairman, B M Bansal told newsmen.