WA: Oil spill clean-up expected to cost millions

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2009
WA: Oil spill clean-up expected to cost millions

PERTH, Aug 23 AAP - The clean-up bill for an oil and gas spill on a rig off Western
Australia's northwest coast is expected to cost millions of dollars, the Australian Maritime
Safety Authority (AMSA) says.

AMSA spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said the Thai-based company, PTTEP Australasia, which
operates the rig, would foot the bill.

She said while she could not estimate how much the clean-up would cost, "it would be
very expensive" and would continue to rise until the leak was stemmed.

"The imperative now is that the leak is stopped," Ms Jiggins said on Sunday.

"The company has given us a written undertaking that they will pay for any cost of the clean-up.

"It's impossible to gauge at this stage, but it will run into the millions."

AAP ap/apm

KEYWORD: SPILL AMSA

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