Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07YAOUNDE117
2007-01-29 12:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
CAMEROON: COTCO OIL SPILL TROUBLING CALM WATERS
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UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000117
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C, OES
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS
EUCOM FOR J5-A AFRICA DIVISION AND POLAD YATES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EPET SENV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: COTCO OIL SPILL TROUBLING CALM WATERS
UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000117
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C, OES
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS
EUCOM FOR J5-A AFRICA DIVISION AND POLAD YATES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EPET SENV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: COTCO OIL SPILL TROUBLING CALM WATERS
1. (SBU) On January 19, Cameroonian newspapers reported an
oil spill from the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company
(COTCO) off the coast of Cameroon near Kribi. COTCO Managing
Director Jacky Lesage informed the Embassy that the spill
took place some time during the night of January 14-15 from a
ship 10 km offshore from Kribi. The spill was discovered at
07:00 on January 15. COTCO does not know how long the spill
lasted and had not yet assessed the volume of the spill, but
Lesage estimated that it was less than 10 cubic meters, with
a slick covering an area of approximately two square
kilometers. The slick is reported to be moving slowly away
from the coast. COTCO claims that there is no oil on the
shore and no damage to the coastline, and that it is
purposely "overreacting" in its response with treatments at
sea and from the air to contain the spill.
2. (U) The Cameroonian press has disputed COTCO's account of
the spill, citing a local NGO's claim that the oil slick is a
catastrophe that threatens protected species, and criticized
COTCO for taking too long to report the incident. Local
officials claimed that the spill threatens the livelihoods of
fishermen in the area, and suggested that compensation be
paid for loss of income. Although several papers initially
gave the story front page leads, they largely quoted COTCO
and downplayed the effect of the spill. There has been
little follow up, and the story was not picked up on local
television or radio. There was a report by the French
channel RFI and one by VOA affiliate Magic FM that aired on
January 25. The Magic FM broadcast reported that the mayor
of Kribi said that the spill threatened the fishing and
tourist industries and that he worried about the long-term
environmental effects -- the same concerns noted in newspaper
reports.
3. (U) COTCO spokesman Guillaume E. Kwelle informed the
Embassy January 23 that COTCO notified officials in Kribi
immediately when they learned of the leak, and reiterated
that their monitoring over the weekend confirmed that the
environmental impact was minimal. Later the same day, COTCO
Managing Director Lesage told us that the source of the press
reports was an interview he gave to the Cameroon Tribune on
January 18 that was published the next day, and clarified
that the leak was not from the pipeline but from a line that
was cut from a ship's water exhaust pipe.
4. (U) Comment. This was COTCO's first oil spill in over
three years. Despite the efforts of a local NGO, Save the
Nature, to brew up local controversy, the issue does not
appear to be gathering momentum in the press. The focus of
the mayor of Kribi's criticism appears to be aimed at
generating compensation to benefit the local economy. While
it is possible that this could remain a local sore spot, and
could become controversial if the international media
continue to play on it, the spill has not become a national
issue, and there is no reason to doubt that COTCO has taken
the appropriate cleanup measures. End Comment.
MARQUARDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/C, OES
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA ACTION OFFICERS
EUCOM FOR J5-A AFRICA DIVISION AND POLAD YATES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EPET SENV CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: COTCO OIL SPILL TROUBLING CALM WATERS
1. (SBU) On January 19, Cameroonian newspapers reported an
oil spill from the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company
(COTCO) off the coast of Cameroon near Kribi. COTCO Managing
Director Jacky Lesage informed the Embassy that the spill
took place some time during the night of January 14-15 from a
ship 10 km offshore from Kribi. The spill was discovered at
07:00 on January 15. COTCO does not know how long the spill
lasted and had not yet assessed the volume of the spill, but
Lesage estimated that it was less than 10 cubic meters, with
a slick covering an area of approximately two square
kilometers. The slick is reported to be moving slowly away
from the coast. COTCO claims that there is no oil on the
shore and no damage to the coastline, and that it is
purposely "overreacting" in its response with treatments at
sea and from the air to contain the spill.
2. (U) The Cameroonian press has disputed COTCO's account of
the spill, citing a local NGO's claim that the oil slick is a
catastrophe that threatens protected species, and criticized
COTCO for taking too long to report the incident. Local
officials claimed that the spill threatens the livelihoods of
fishermen in the area, and suggested that compensation be
paid for loss of income. Although several papers initially
gave the story front page leads, they largely quoted COTCO
and downplayed the effect of the spill. There has been
little follow up, and the story was not picked up on local
television or radio. There was a report by the French
channel RFI and one by VOA affiliate Magic FM that aired on
January 25. The Magic FM broadcast reported that the mayor
of Kribi said that the spill threatened the fishing and
tourist industries and that he worried about the long-term
environmental effects -- the same concerns noted in newspaper
reports.
3. (U) COTCO spokesman Guillaume E. Kwelle informed the
Embassy January 23 that COTCO notified officials in Kribi
immediately when they learned of the leak, and reiterated
that their monitoring over the weekend confirmed that the
environmental impact was minimal. Later the same day, COTCO
Managing Director Lesage told us that the source of the press
reports was an interview he gave to the Cameroon Tribune on
January 18 that was published the next day, and clarified
that the leak was not from the pipeline but from a line that
was cut from a ship's water exhaust pipe.
4. (U) Comment. This was COTCO's first oil spill in over
three years. Despite the efforts of a local NGO, Save the
Nature, to brew up local controversy, the issue does not
appear to be gathering momentum in the press. The focus of
the mayor of Kribi's criticism appears to be aimed at
generating compensation to benefit the local economy. While
it is possible that this could remain a local sore spot, and
could become controversial if the international media
continue to play on it, the spill has not become a national
issue, and there is no reason to doubt that COTCO has taken
the appropriate cleanup measures. End Comment.
MARQUARDT