Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia’s key environmental and maritime authorities have activated a joint emergency response following an oil spill detected during Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) discharge operations at the GamPetroleum depot in Mandinaring, Kombo North.
In a statement issued on Saturday, November 22, the National Environment Agency (NEA), Gambia Maritime Administration (GMA), National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) confirmed that the incident occurred on 19 November 2025 while the vessel m/t DORRY was offloading fuel through the GamPetroleum pipeline system.
According to the statement, the vessel crew first observed oil on the water, prompting GamPetroleum to immediately suspend all discharge operations as a precaution.
The company later reported that the source of the leak had been identified and repaired. Authorities are currently carrying out compliance checks and safety certifications to ensure that all risks of recurrence are eliminated.
The GMA said it was notified at around 8:45 a.m. on the day of the incident, triggering a multi-agency incident-management protocol.
A joint field assessment involving GMA, NDMA, NEA, and the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) confirmed that the spill had travelled beyond the pipeline zone, reaching the shoreline areas around Albert Market, the Banjul Ferry Terminal, State House, and the vicinity of the former Radio SYD.
Regulators have formally requested detailed incident logs, operational data, and full compliance with emergency orders from GamPetroleum as part of the ongoing response.
Clean-Up Operations Set to Begin
Authorities say clean-up preparations are in progress, and a comprehensive work plan outlining resource requirements has already been submitted to GamPetroleum. Stakeholder mobilisation is underway, with the clean-up expected to begin on Tuesday, 25 November 2025.
Meanwhile, the four institutions will conduct a full investigation to determine the root cause of the spill, enforce accountability, and strengthen safety measures within the petroleum sector.
Future preventive efforts will include tighter monitoring systems, improved risk-management protocols, and stricter compliance enforcement.
The agencies reaffirmed their commitment to “timely and transparent communication” and pledged to keep the public informed as new updates become available.
