Oil spill in Mauritius: France offers its support

The bulk carrier MV Wakashio, owned by a Japanese shipowner and flying the Panamanian flag, was loaded with some 3,800 tonnes of fuel oil which began to spill into the sea after its accident at Pointe d'Esny, near the international airport of Mauritius. Daren Mauree / L'Express Maurice / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

France has responded favorably to the Mauritian Prime Minister's call for help. Paris will provide material assistance to Mauritius, threatened by an oil spill since the bulk carrier "MV Wakashio" ran aground at the end of July on a reef in the south-east of Mauritius.

Publicity

Read more

“  When biodiversity is in danger, there is an urgent need to act. France is there. Alongside the Mauritian people. (...) We are now deploying teams and equipment from Reunion Island,  ”Emmanuel Macron wrote on his Twitter account.

Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, announced on Twitter on Saturday that he had asked for help from France. “  The sinking of the #Wakashio represents a danger for Mauritius. Our country does not have the skills and expertise for refloating stranded ships, so I asked for help from #France to @EmmanuelMacron,  ”he wrote.

When biodiversity is in danger, there is an urgent need to act. France is there. Alongside the Mauritian people. You can count on our support dear @PKJugnauth. We are now deploying teams and equipment from Reunion Island. https://t.co/uxoNhAQWfS

  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 8, 2020

The French President therefore pledged this Saturday August 8 to provide
material aid to Mauritius, threatened by an oil spill since the bulk carrier 
"MV Wakashio" ran aground at the end of July on a reef in the south-east
of Indian Ocean State. 

The prefecture of Reunion then clarified, also on Twitter, that “  France is supporting Mauritius in the context of the pollution episode affecting its coasts. Nearly 21t and 80m3 of equipment and experts left # LaRéunion this morning, by military plane and aboard the
National Navy ship Le Champlain. "

France is providing support to Mauritius as part of the pollution episode affecting its coasts.
Nearly 21 t and 80m3 of equipment and experts left # LaRéunion this morning, by military plane and aboard the National Navy ship Le Champlain. pic.twitter.com/cGfwZI19Fs

  Prefect of Reunion (@ Prefet974) August 8, 2020

The bulk carrier "MV Wakashio", owned by a Japanese shipowner but flying the Panamanian flag, was traveling empty but was carrying 200 tonnes of diesel and 3,800 tonnes of heavy oil, according to local press. Its crew was evacuated. It was stranded on Esny Point, a Ramsar classified wetland, like the nearby Blue Bay Marine Park and also threatened. 

The Prime Minister of Mauritius thanked Emmanuel Macron on Twitter: “  My most sincere thanks to the French President, @EmmanuelMacron
, for his invaluable help in response to the ecological crisis our country is facing. Once again, France, a friendly nation of Mauritius, stands by our side in these difficult times.  ".

This Saturday at the end of the day, the Prime Minister of Mauritius reported on Twitter "  notable progress  " in "  rescue operations to contain marine pollution  ".

Since the sinking of the Wakashio, the authorities have undertaken, despite the strong swells, rescue operations to contain marine pollution. The climatic conditions having improved for 48 hours and thanks to additional means, progress is notable. pic.twitter.com/LR9swOsuNq

  Pravind Jugnauth (@pjugnauth) August 8, 2020

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Mauritius
  • Pollution
  • Environment
  • France
  • Emmanuel Macron