Authority clarifies role in Pari oil-spill investigation

THE National Maritime and Safety Authority (NMSA) is in charge of conducting investigations and reporting on the extent of damage or risks to the marine life and community caused by a recent oil
spill in Port Moresby, an official says.
Managing director for the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) Gunther Joku said this when updating the progress of the assessment into the oil spill at Pari village which  killed fish and other marine life.
Pari villagers raised serious concerns regarding health issues when the incident happened in the beginning of this year from fuel
tankers transported by Puma Energy.
Joku said Cepa was a member
of the committee that looked
into the matter but “it’s not us
doing the assessment and investigation”.
“It’s the NMSA and we are waiting on their advice on what’s the progress or the outcome of their findings so we are able to make our inputs where it is necessary,” Joku said.
Puma Energy country manager Jim Collings said earlier  that the spill was not significant to cause extreme damage to the marine environment but the company had taken the matter seriously as part of maintaining its environmental and safety standards.
However, to date, there is no clarity from the responsible state agencies regarding the progress on any assessment or investigation into the oil spill.