Lebanon conflict
Storage tanks at the Jieh power plant after bombings
(Source: Le Floc'h Dépollution)
From 13 to 15 July 2006, bombings in southern Lebanon hit the Jieh
electric power plant (30 km south of Beirut). Part of the heavy
fuel oil burned. According to the Lebanese authorities' estimations,
10,000 to 15,000 tonnes of unburned fuel oil were spilled onto the
shoreline and drifted at sea, pushed by south-westerly winds. The
pollution soon extended to impact almost half of the 200 km of Lebanese
coastline. Several types of substrates were affected: sand, stones,
rocks, port facilities...
The
product spilled appeared to be an IFO 150 (Intermediate Fuel Oil
with a viscosity of 150 cSt at 50°C).
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Density at 15°C | 0.9385 |
| Cinematic viscosity at 50°C (cSt) | 140 |
| Flash point in °C | >110 |
| Pour point in °C | 6 |
| Sulphur (% mass) | 1 |
| Asphaltenes (% mass) | 2.8 |
| Vanadium V (ppm) | 22 |
Thin slick at sea off the coast of Beirut in August 2006
(Source: French Navy)
Continuous deposit off the coast of Tripoli in August 2006
(Source: French Navy)
Name: Lebanon conflict
Date: 13 July 2006
Location: Mediterranean
Type of pollutant: intermediate fuel oil (IFO 150)
Quantity spilled: 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes
Cause of spill: bombings
See also
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Last update: December 2006