In light of used oil from Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc being released into surrounding waterways of Region 10 and into the Demerara River, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is presently determining the penalties to be issued against the Company.
INews understands that the EPA has already instructed Bosai to immediately commence clean-up and restoration activities. Meanwhile, the EPA continues to conduct its investigation into the situation and monitor the facility as well as the “clean-up exercise.”
According to the EPA, it received a report through the Natural Resources Ministry yesterday about the release of used oil by Bosai and promptly begun investigations into the matter today in collaboration with the Regional Democratic Council, Region 10.
It was noted that officials of Bosai, including members of the Company’s Environmental Department, Health and Safety Department, and its Supervisor of the Power Generation Plant, were present during this investigation.
“The investigation sought to determine the source or cause of the incident and to identify immediate remediation requirements…the EPA’s investigation revealed that used oil flowed from a concrete drainage network in the compound of the Bosai Mineral Group (Guyana) Inc. leading to a nearby trench and ultimately into the Demerara River,” the EPA reported.
It was explained that the area containing the used oil tank has an “oil-water separator” in place to capture spilt oil, but in this case according to an official from Bosai, used oil was inadvertently released into the surface drain instead of the oil-water separator.
“The Environmental Department of Bosai stated they were unaware that used oil was being released from their facility and only became aware of the matter on March 30, 2016, at approximately 11:00 hrs when it was brought to their attention,” the EPA noted.
