AfDB approves U$500,000 to clean up marine oil spill in Mauritius
The African Development Bank contribution will bolster international efforts to help Mauritius recover from an accident that threatens the basis of the island’s economy
The board of directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved an emergency assistance grant of US$500,000 to support international recovery efforts after a significant oil spill in August off the coast of Mauritius.
The funding, to be sourced from the bank’s Special Relief Fund, will complement ongoing activities by the government of Mauritius, development partners and other actors to undertake salvaging and cleaning operations and conduct damage and loss assessments, along with other evaluations.
The United Nations has assumed a lead role in co-ordinating the response.
Dependent on blue economy
“The $500,000 emergency assistance grant from the African Development Bank to Mauritius is an important contribution to the international recovery effort towards restoring the pristine marine ecology, so important for livelihoods in the blue economy and tourism sectors, which is now threatened by the unfortunate oil spill,” said Martin Fregene, AfDB’s director for agriculture and agro-industry.
More than 1,000 tonnes of oil have leaked into the Indian Ocean since a carrier vessel ran aground off the coast of Mauritius on 25 July.
Rescue teams successfully pumped out about 3,800 tonnes of oil and the government declared a state of emergency.
Officials have ordered fishermen and citizens to stay away from beaches and lagoons around Blue Bay, Pointe d’Esny and Mahébourg.
Ongoing risk
The oil spill has created health, conservation and economic challenges.
Mauritius relies heavily on the blue economy, particularly food and tourism, and its coastline has some of the world’s most pristine coral reefs.
The general population remains at ongoing risk of severe illness from petroleum and associated pollutants.
The country had hoped to reopen its borders to tourists following a successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the spill has delayed all such plans.
In May 2020, the Bank approved €188 million in loans to Mauritius to bolster the country’s budget as it mounted a response to the pandemic.
As of 1 August, the Bank had four projects in its portfolio for the country, valued at $458.8 million in total.
Fred Dzakpata
* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#asaaseradio #TVOL
