Investigation Begins after 500 Litres of Oil Leak into Port Louis Harbour Area Waters

An investigation is underway after a pipeline leak released several hundred litres of heavy oil into the port zone on Friday, 8 May 2026.

The incident, which occurred during a pipeline cleaning operation by Engen Ltd, triggered an immediate emergency response to contain the spill near Ruisseau de La Paix.

Authorities confirmed that between 200 and 500 litres of fuel oil mixed with water entered the waterway, flowing through the Lataniers River before reaching the port channel.

Emergency Response and Containment

The Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) activated its contingency plan shortly after the leak was detected.

To prevent further environmental spread, the following measures were implemented:

• Booms: The MPA installed a floating barrier to contain the slick within the port channel.
• Absorption: Engen Ltd deployed absorbent materials to recover the spilled mixture.
• Repairs: Engineers have since repaired the faulty pipeline, and officials confirmed that no further leakage has been detected.

Impact and Inquiry

Despite the spill, officials reported no injuries and confirmed that port operations continued without disruption.

The Environmental Police have formally opened an enquiry to determine the exact cause of the failure and to establish legal responsibility.

At this stage, the situation is reported to be under control.

Source: Defi Media