Mobil faces oil-spill charges

A MESS: Oil was still being cleaned up at the Bridge Marina, months after the spill. Photo / File

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is prosecuting Mobil Oil New Zealand in relation to the oil spilled in Tauranga Harbour earlier this year.

About 1500 litres of heavy fuel oil leaked into Tauranga Harbour on April 27. Oiled debris and wildlife washed up on beaches days after the event, costing more than $800,000 to clean up.

The first call for the prosecution will be at Tauranga District Court on November 26.

Mobil country manager Andrew McNaught said yesterday: "Mobil apologises for the incident. We deeply regret that it occurred and the impact it had on the community.

"We have worked hard since April to rectify and minimise the impacts of the leak to the local environment. Following the release of an estimated 1500 litres of heavy fuel oil on April 27, Mobil took immediate steps to respond. "We worked co-operatively with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to actively assist in the response, and have committed significant resources to clean up and restore the affected areas in Tauranga Harbour."

Mobil had committed funds of $1.79 million, including reimbursing the regional council for more than $836,000 in clean-up costs.

Oil spill cleanup at Maungatapu, April 29. Photo/Andrew Warner

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Mobil said they would not be making any further comments while the case was before the courts.

Earlier this year, Tauranga-based list MP Clayton Mitchell called for fuel giant Mobil to be prosecuted for the harbour oil spill.