Oil India Limited (OIL) on June 22 said that the closure notice served to them by the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) is likely to be lifted.
Though OIL also said of moving the court regarding the notice, in a press statement issued by the Public Sector Unit major on June 22 said that the chairman of PCBA spoke to CMD-OIL and the closure notice is in the process of being lifted.
Earlier, in the closure notice issued by the PCBA on June 19 had asked the OIL to close down the operations at Baghjan area in Tinsukia district following an explosion which later caught fire at an oil well at this locality.
The oil well at Baghjan developed a burst on May 27 and continued to leak condensate and oil putting the area in danger which later caught a devastating fire on June 9.
Among other violations of norms, the notice also mentioned that the Baghjan oilfield was being operated without the “consent to establish and consent to operate” permission from PCBA.
Meanwhile, at the site, the fire continues to burn as OIL prepares to douse. OIL officials said that they are targeting to complete all the preparatory measures before July 7. Army has also been engaged in the work.
OIL authorities said that the work to cap the well is in full swing.
“The consignments being mobilized from outside Assam were stuck at Dalkhola, West Bengal for a very long waiting queue for COVID-19 testing on June 21. Vehicles carrying second load of equipment and materials mobilized from ONGC–Rajahmundry, two vehicles carrying equipment/materials mobilized from ONGC- Vadodara and a trailer with bulldozer mobilized from ONGC- Vadodara are in transit,” said the statement issued by the OIL.
Losses Due To Blockades
Due to blockades and various protests by different organizations and locals because of the blast, the OIL had to incur a huge loss in the last several days.
There was a production loss of 149 MT of Crude Oil and 0.16 MMSCM (Million Metric Standard Cubic Metres) of Natural Gas as reported on June 21. Operations were disrupted in 22 Oil wells and 1 gas well. Cumulative production loss since May 27 due to bandhs and blockades is 8162 MT Crude oil, 10.4 MMSCM of natural gas, said the statement.
