DAMMAM, 23 September 2003 — Experts are concerned over increasing oil pollution in the Gulf region, which according to an international study constitutes 30 percent of the world’s oil pollution.
According to a report released recently by marine emergency body MEMAC, most of the incidents of oil pollution in the Gulf region are due to oil spills. It cites Saudi Arabian beaches as the most polluted in the region, where approximately 11 million barrels of oil pollute the beaches and surrounding environment.
The main cause of oil pollution in the Gulf was the excessive movement of oil tankers. The study revealed that 12,000 oil tankers moved in the Gulf waters every year causing oil spills and damaging marine life. It is expected that in 10 years’ time the number of oil tankers in the Arabian Gulf will have doubled, causing more pollution.
However, experts admit that the Gulf authorities can do little about these problems as they are committed to meeting the world’s energy requirements. Approximately 56 percent of the world’s oil needs is met by the Gulf countries, with Saudi Arabia remaining the major contributor, followed by Kuwait.
Marine life in the Arabian Gulf sustained immense damage during the Gulf war of 1990-91 when burning oil wells in Kuwait polluted the air of not only Kuwait but neighboring countries as well. Saudi Arabia was the worst affected.
But the maximum damage was caused by millions of barrels of oil spilled in the Arabian waters by fleeing Iraqi troops. It took almost three years for marine life to return to normal.
The beaches in Jubail, Ras Tanura, Safaniyah and even in Dammam and Alkhobar were almost unusable.
The Kingdom has now sought compensation for the damage caused by the oil spills.
