Break-in and Oil Spill at Old Hamang Transformer Station

Norwegian authorities are investigating a break-in at the decommissioned Hamang transformer station, resulting in a significant oil spill.

Break-in and Oil Spill at Old Hamang Transformer Station

A significant oil spill occurred at the old Hamang transformer station in Bærum after an act of vandalism led to the release of several tons of oil. Authorities discovered signs of forced entry on Sunday evening, prompting an immediate cleanup effort.

Incident Details:

• Discovery of the Incident: Signs of a break-in were found on Sunday evening.
• Cause of Spill: Investigators determined that perpetrators cut through a fence and loosened a lid on a decommissioned transformer, causing oil to leak.
• Response: Fire services alerted Statnett to a potential oil spill on Sunday afternoon. Statnett personnel quickly confirmed that the spill did not originate from the new transformer station, which became operational last fall.
• Leak Containment: The leak was identified at the old Hamang station, and the flow was stopped by securing the loosened lid.

Environmental Impact:

• An estimated 50-60 tons of oil leaked.
• Most of the oil was contained by on-site sumps, but some seeped into the ground and flowed into the Sandvikselva River.
• Fire services deployed oil containment booms, and absorbent materials were placed in the river by Statnett and Bærum municipality.

Ongoing Cleanup Efforts:

• Overnight, multiple vacuum trucks removed as much oil as possible.
• Cleanup crews are currently assessing soil contamination and ensuring rapid oil recovery.
• As of 01:30 AM on Monday, over 60 cubic meters of oil and water had been extracted.
• A vacuum truck and excavator are still operating at the site to further clean the area.
• Additional containment booms have been deployed along the Sandvikselva River to prevent further spread.

Official Statements:

• Thomas Fennefoss, Project Manager at Statnett: “The priority now is to recover as much oil as possible.”
• The case has been handed over to the police for further investigation.

Next Steps:

The affected transformer was scheduled to be relocated for use at the Sogn station. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, and authorities are closely monitoring the environmental impact.

Source:

Statnett | Innbrudd og oljelekkasje på gamle Hamang transformatorstasjon