QEC reports 7,000-litre diesel spill in Rankin Inlet
Spill was the result of mechanical failure, Nunavut’s elecrticity supplier says
A 7,000-litre diesel spill that occurred last Thursday in Rankin Inlet is contained and soil remediation is underway, Qulliq Energy Corp., says. (File photo)
Qulliq Energy Corporation says nearly 7,000 litres of diesel fuel was spilled in Rankin Inlet on July 18.
Nunavut’s electricity generation company publicly reported the incident in a news release Wednsesday, nearly a week after the spill occurred.
The spill, which was discovered outside of the hamlet’s power plant, was the result of mechanical failure of an overfill system, the QEC news release said.
Qulliq Energy Corp., the government-owned electricity supplier in Nunavut, burns diesel fuel in its generators to produce electricity.
“Efforts are underway to repair the equipment and remediate the impacted area,” the company’s release said.
“There is no immediate danger to the public due to ongoing mitigation efforts.”
QEC did not respond to follow up questions by publication.
QEC advised residents that heavy equipment will be operating around the power plant to remediate soils affected by the spill.
The Rankin Inlet incident was the first of two recent spills in the territory, both occurring within the past week.
On Monday, approximately 4,800 litres of gasoline overflowed from the tank farm in Sanikiluaq due to what the Government of Nunavut said was “human error.”
On June 11, in Pond Inlet, there was a diesel fuel spill. A broken pipeline at the Government of Nunavut-owned tank farm resulted in approximately 7,000 litres of fuel spilling into the Arctic Ocean.
The GN began a cleanup, and the federal Environment Department opened an investigation into that spill.
June 11th – 7000 Liters of Diesel Fuel spilled at Tank Farm on Land and into the Ocean.
July 18th – 7000 Liters of Diesel Spilled in Rankin Inlet that we only found out about 7 days later instead of immediately.
July 22nd – 4800 Liters of Gasoline spilled in Sanikiluaq
What is going on? That is a total of 18,800 Liters of Fuel spilled onto the land, into the waters and within our communities. Having lived through the contaminated water crisis in Iqaluit, I just shake my head. Where is the importance on safety and security. Where is the accountability. What is the long term health risk or damage to our environment. Everything spilled on land makes its way to the watershed and into our waters. We read this week about Sharks filled with Cocaine, maybe next it will be Nunavut Narwhals or Seals that taste like gas?
The Government should immediately launch a full investigation on all three spills. Accountability is critical, and financial repercussions should be considered. Canadian Environmental Protection Officers should be dispatched immediately, and they should lay charges where appropriate. Thee fuel spills in such close proximity to each other is crazy. Qulliq Energy has a history of fuel spills and damages. And PPD a division of the GN should be accountable as well.
Very sad.
“Thee fuel spills in such close proximity to each other” I think you should look at a map. all three are nowhere near each other.
Well geographically and distance measurements, you are correct. But all three happened within our territory.
My apologies, I should not have used the word proximity, I should have said within a short span of time. Typing faster then I was thinking. Thanks for pointing out.
I like to think we are all one. Nunavut proud!
Proximity can refer to closeness in time.
Wow, did I ever nail this, I told you all this was coming due to lack of maintenance and a ppd department that is in shambles. Spills all over the arctic and lets be reminded these are only the reported problems. Shore manifolds that are locked with $5 locks, or no locks, fences falling down or no fences around tank farms, a dipping system that is questionable at best, no lock out system during resupply transfers, you wait more spills to come I guarantee it! Time for a Rankin Purge.
The problem is too many high heads don’t know how to run plants to tank frams ,
Hire the wrong person get the spills ,
QEC is in trouble 110% for sure let them run while they can lol .
Eyes and ears
What’s with the fuel spills, it seems ongoing in different communities.