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Replace Kigamboni SPM to improve operations, avert disaster
2007-09-20 09:47:35
By Guardian Correspondent
For human beings and some animal species, living for 36 years is not a big deal even with the current threat of the AIDS pandemic which is said to have shortened the life expectancy of many people in the developing countries.
But for a metal pipe that has been underground or underwater such a period is more than too long and may as well spell a hazard for both human life and the environment.
This is the situation of the pipeline linking the Single Point Mooring (SPM) terminal at the outer anchorage close to Kigamboni area in Dar es Salaam to TIPER and TAZAMA.
While the former has for a long time ceased to operate as a refinery and instead is being used as a storage facility for petroleum products, TAZAMA still performs its function of receiving and storing crude oil from the SMP facility and transporting it through a pipeline to Indeni in Zambia where it is refined.
The SPM which was commissioned in 1971 is connected to the facility through a 36 inch pipeline that runs for seven kilometres, three of which are on the seabed and the rest are overland.
Yet experts are of the opinion that the pipeline has overstayed its useful life and it is high time it was replaced in order to avert a catastrophe.
In fact, way back in 1986 when the pipeline had been in use for just about 15 years, a company contracted to survey and determine the condition of the pipeline had recommended that it should be replaced as it had already suffered extensive damage due to corrosion.
A report by Ms ED Willey which was submitted to the then Tanzania Harbours Authority (THA) indicated that the extent of corrosion along the pipeline varied from 15 to 50 percent and recommended its immediate replacement.
Some experts in the oil industry have expressed their fears on the safety of the pipeline arguing that 21 years after Ms Willey`s report, the pipeline is definitely heavily corroded, leading to leakages at some points.
Early this year, TIPER Managing Director Olando D` Costa had conceded that oils including crude oil had indeed seeped into the walls of the pipeline and the latter was oozing out at some points along the pipeline.
He observed that the area along the pipeline had suffered environmental damage, calling for the need take measures to correct the situation.
He was quoted by the local media as having said that his company had conducted tests to determine the thickness of the pipe and found out that corrosion had damaged a large section of the pipe to well over 50 percent and that it was not advisable to continue using the pipe.
The poor condition of the pipe was not only known to the oil companies and other private stakeholders in the industry but also by government officials.
At one time the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Enos Bukuku inspected the pipeline in the company of various officials and instructed all the major stakeholders, TIPER, TAZAMA and TPA to prepare independent reports on the condition of the pipeline and suggest what should be done to remedy the situation.
We do not know yet what the companies suggested but one thin is clear here: No one is ready to shut the pipeline because such a move would have far reaching repercussions.
One is that closing the pipe would mean cutting off the flow of crude oil to Zambia and subsequently shutting down the Indeni Refinery in Ndola.
The result would be acute shortage of petroleum products (petrol, diesel, kerosene etc) that would send their prices sky-rocketing. This would surely have a knock off effect on the economy of Zambia, a huge cost indeed.
Yet while the parties keep their fingers crossed and try to forget the urgency of solving the problem, the oil continues to leak slowly as the pipeline continues to weaken, heralding a major disaster.
At their present state the SPM and the seven kilometre pipeline are already a hazard.
Should either the overland section or the submerged section of the pipe burst, the damage would be enormous.
An oil slick is likely to occur which in turn would affect marine life throughout the Easter Africa coast.
On the other hand such an accident may lead to severe environmental damage on the land and affect the health of people as well as animals.
However, observers in the oil industry believe that there is a solution to the problem and the remedy rests on the hands of TPA - implementation of the SPM project.
``This project is key to solving the problems of the SPM and the dilapidated pipeline, unfortunately TPA is taking its time to complete it.
Given the circumstances, I don`t think they can afford themselves that luxury,``commented an official with one of the oil companies in the countries who did not want his name mentioned.
He said that it is better to act now when there isn\'t so much pressure.``
But if a section of the pipe bursts, people will run around looking for immediate alternatives as if they didn\'t know the problem existed,`` he added.
On completion the project would replace the SPM terminal with a multipurpose one which would be able to handle tankers of up to 200,000 tons thus incurring less cost per unit as compared to the 40,000 ton tankers which the SPM handles.
With a multi purpose facility, the tankers can also load faster and thus cut down demurrage charges on the part of the carrier.
Recent reports indicate that other work project has started and should all go according to plan, it will be accomplished in about two years\' time.
As aforementioned, the new facility will be able to handle larger vessels transporting crude oil as well as other products.
There is therefore hope that the threat to the environment and people\'s health will be addressed accordingly, presumably before disaster strikes.
The transporters` and other costs, including demurrage charges, will be cut down a situation which is likely to stabilize fuel prices in the country.
On another note, the Indeni refinery will continue to be fully operational without the management worrying about an impending shut down that could throw the country into an economic crisis.
With improved and reliable off loading of petroleum products at the Dar es Salaam port, countries in he Lake zone would be assured of a regular and reliable supply of fuel as the turn round time for the trucks carrying the fuel will be shorter that it is at present. But all this depends on how fast TPA can execute the project.
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