CAIRO: Egypt’s Ministry of Environment has controlled a 300-meters long oil spill in the Nile River in northern Aswan, Youm7 reported Monday.
In a Monday statement, the ministry announced that an oil spill estimated between 200 and 300 meters long and 7 to 10 meters wide.
“The spill was surrounded so as not to be washed into other areas of the river; samples were taken from the water to make sure there is no pollution,” the statement added.
Inspection campaigns were held to examine a number of tourist barges to find out if the spill had originated from them.
Moreover, Aswan Governor Mostafa Yousri announced that a cooperation protocol is to be signed with Petrosafe Oil Spill Response Center (OSRC) for the fast handling of any polluting oil spill found in the waters of the governorate.
Yousri told Youm7 Tuesday that the protocol initiative came after the center was able to control the source of the spill quickly.
The OSRC is a center affiliated to the Ministry of Petroleum; it was established with an investment of 8 million EGP ($1.02 million,) for the fast containment of oil spills.