ISIS sabotage causes oil leak into Tigris River, threatening water supply
The leakage stems from pipeline damage caused by ISIS terrorists who had previously punctured the pipelines for oil smuggling operations.
Nov. 13, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kirkuk Environmental Directorate revealed on Wednesday that the Tigris River has been contaminated due to oil leakage from the Ajil and Alas oilfields in Salahuddin province.
The leakage stems from pipeline damage caused by ISIS terrorists who had previously punctured the pipelines for oil smuggling operations.
Ali Izzeddin, Director of Kirkuk Environment, announced that his directorate has formed a joint team with the North Oil Company to investigate the presence of oil in the Tigris River, which has occurred twice within a week.
He indicated that the North Oil Company attempted to construct soil barriers around the leak site within the Ajil and Alas fields near al-Alam district along the Tigris River, where oil residue continues to seep into the river.
The Environmental Director stated that his department rejected this barrier solution, as it would not effectively prevent environmental and river water contamination.
"The company is working to resolve this issue to prevent recurrence, in addition to strengthening security measures to prevent attacks or oil theft," he added.
Meanwhile, an official source from the North Oil Company reported that last Tuesday, the company conducted a two-day field inspection to identify deficiencies and address the residue causing partial river contamination.
The source explained that recent heavy rainfall has contributed to the river's pollution by washing oil residue into the river from western and northern provinces. They also mentioned plans to construct a channel to prevent future oil leakage into the river.
The Tikrit Water Ministry reported that contaminated water is flowing toward Tikrit and is expected to reach the province soon.
The directorate warned of potential impacts on water projects due to the Tigris River contamination and urged residents to cooperate in water conservation to avoid any difficulties.
The Ministry of Water Resources temporarily suspended water projects in Tikrit following the detection of oil in the river. Local authorities are investigating the matter, while Baghdad officials closely monitor the situation for any illegal activities.
The Tigris River is one of Iraq's major water sources, providing drinking water and irrigation for millions of residents. The Ajil and Alas oilfields, located in Salahuddin province, have been previous targets of ISIS attacks.
This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in protecting critical infrastructure and the environmental risks posed by terrorist activities in the region.