A substantial oil leak has occurred at a disused electricity transformer station near Oslo, with estimates indicating that approximately 60 tonnes of oil has spilled following a suspected act of sabotage. The incident took place on Sunday when reports emerged of a break-in at the premises.
Norwegian police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the breach in Bærum municipality. Authorities observed that part of the fence surrounding the station had been cut, and a cover beneath the transformer had been unscrewed and left open. Thomas Fennefoss, Project Manager at the national power grid operator Statnett, indicated that the incident appears to be a deliberate act of sabotage.
“It appears that someone has broken in, removed a cover on the transformer, and left it open, causing a significant amount of oil to spill out,” he stated. However, police officials have noted that there is currently no concrete evidence to support the sabotage claim.
The leaked oil, which is harmful to the environment but poses no threat to human health, has reached the nearby Sandvikselva River, with some seepage occurring underground. Richard Kongsteien, Communication Manager for Bærum municipality, confirmed that efforts are underway to minimise the environmental impact. Oil barriers and absorbent materials have been deployed to contain and clean up the spill.
Source : euronews
