'Large oil spill' in Brandenburg after pipeline breaks

"An oil pipeline of the major PCK refinery was damaged in the German state of Brandenburg on Wednesday, resulting in a "large oil spill", a spokesman for the state's environment ministry said. The PCK refinery near the border with Poland is majority-owned by Rosneft Deutschland, a local subsidiary of the Russian oil giant, and managed through a trusteeship by the German government."

"While no one was seriously injured as a result of the spill, an environment ministry spokesperson said the crude may have entered local rivers. "An accident occurred on a PCK pipeline near Gramzow/Zehnebeck... Emergency services are on site. No information can be provided at this time about the cause or the exact extent of the damage," the spokesman said. State environment minister Hanka Mittelstaedt will visit the site on Thursday morning to assess the damage, he added."

"Local newspaper Maerkische Oderzeitung reported that oil was gushing "in a fountain about 10 to 12 metres high" near the municipality of Gramzow. The fire department estimated that at least 200,000 litres of crude oil have leaked, according to a Tagesspiegel report. At least two refinery employees were "splashed with oil" as a result of the spill, but did not require hospitalisation, a regional fire department spokesperson told AFP."

A pipeline at the PCK refinery in Brandenburg ruptured near Gramzow/Zehnebeck, producing a fountain of oil roughly 10–12 metres high and releasing crude into the environment. Emergency services including about 100 firefighters, tankers and a hazardous materials unit were deployed to contain and recover the oil. The fire department estimated at least 200,000 litres leaked. Two refinery employees were splashed with oil but did not need hospital treatment. Authorities warned that crude may have entered local rivers and environmental assessments are under way. State environment minister Hanka Mittelstaedt will visit the site to evaluate damage. Cleanup operations remain ongoing and the situation is being managed.

Read at The Local Germany