Another gasfield blowout

While it would be presumptuous to pinpoint the causes of the fire at this point in time, we cannot but wonder at the reported lacunae that were prevalent in the whole operations. First, the Tengratila gas field has been lying derelict for close to two decades when last October, a company, considered unsuitable for gas exploration, was awarded the contract for drilling this gas field in an arbitrary manner. Second, it appears that not all safety measures were in place to ensure mishaps were prevented, or contained should any occur.

The recent accident brings to mind the spectre of Magurchhara that cost Bangladesh the entire gas reserve of Magurchhara, approximately 245 Bcf, amounting to almost 700 million USD. But the cost is more than in terms of gas lost, the effect such mishaps have on the ecology, the economy and the social life of the people of the area which is longer lasting, and, therefore, causes a far-reaching concern.

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We urge the authorities to urgently determine the causes of the blowout and fix the responsibility for it, with the best expert opinion available on the subject, lest an attempt is made by any quarter to resort to prevarication.

Merely saying that the disaster was "a human error" or "simply an accident" as Occidental did in denying the allegation of negligence on their part in the Magurchhara disaster will not do, and the people or companies responsible must recompense adequately all the affected parties.