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Abandoned oilfield a toxic wasteland in South Sudan

Amid civil war, contamination from an abandoned oilfield poses new threat to besieged civilians.

The Thar Jath oil extraction plant in South Sudan's Unity state was abandoned by the oil company in late 2013. Four months later, civil war broke out across the country.
By Al Jazeera
Published On 4 Mar 2015

Leer, South Sudan – The Thar Jath oilfield in South Sudan’s war-torn Unity state has been abandoned.

The unmaintained facility, which lies inside rebel-held territory, is slowly rotting and leaking toxic oil into the earth.

According to rebel soldiers stationed in the area, international employees deserted the oilfield in August 2013, four months before civil war broke out in South Sudan.

Researchers from German aid group Sign of Hope and water drilling experts African Water Ltd have released the results of an extensive investigation showing that drinking water sources for at least 180,000 people in Unity state have been contaminated by oil exploration and production here.

Wells dug for communities contain water with salt levels so high that it is undrinkable. Abnormal heavy metal deposits such as lead and zinc were also found in the water supply.

The investigation found no natural source for the salt levels and presence of heavy metals in the water supply. The researchers attribute the contamination to oil extraction activities and poor waste disposal procedures.

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Villagers cannot use their contaminated wells and instead are sourcing water from swamps and rivers, increasing the risk of catching deadly water-borne diseases.

Currently, rebel officials say the government and oil companies have no presence at these oilfields and safe drinking water sources for the population are disappearing.

More on the story

No one is maintaining the facility and leaking oil has caused major spillage throughout the site.
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New research shows that salt and heavy metals coming from oil exploration and production have contaminated drinking water across this area, putting the health of hundreds of thousands of people at risk.
Local opposition soldiers claim an armed group from Sudan's Darfur region ransacked the Thar Jath facility in early 2014.
Documents from the company SPOC indicate the Thar Jath facility was ordered by the government of South Sudan to cease operations by August 7, 2013.
Papers strewn around the ransacked company offices of SPOC contain photographs of oil workers before the plant was shut down and abandoned in late 2013.
Fighting is evident at one oil well feeding the central processing facility. Live and spent ammunitions rust in the hot sun where locals say opposition troops fought a Darfur militia from Sudan in early 2014.
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Bullet and shrapnel holes can be seen at one leaking oil well near Thar Jath.
A Nuer opposition rebel with his weapon at an outpost near the Thar Jath oilfield. Fighting between the dominant Nuer and Dinka tribes has raged in the world's youngest country for 14 months.
Children play in mud puddles beside Rier town's only functioning water pump. Salt levels in the water tested from this pump show it is undrinkable, and villagers have to use water from the swamps and river.
In Rier market at the heart of rebel-held territory, there is almost nothing for sale. It is difficult for supplies to reach these areas from government-held sides.