A new suspected oil spill, covering an area of 12-20 square kilometers, was detected on 10/5 near Iran's Kharg Island. This information comes from maritime intelligence data analytics company Windward AI, which stated, "We detected traces suspected to originate from an oil spill on 10/5 near Iran's Kharg Island." This incident follows the observation of a gray-white slick, approximately 65 square kilometers in size, by a satellite from the European Union's (EU) Earth observation program in the area west of Kharg Island between 6-8/5.

According to Windward AI, the larger slick is currently moving at a steady pace across the sea. Predictions suggest it could enter Qatar's exclusive economic zone in four days and potentially reach the coast near Al Mirfa, United Arab Emirates (UAE), after 13 days.

The slick west of Kharg Island, Iran, in an image captured on 6/5. *Reuters*

The Iran Oil Terminals Company denied reports of an oil leak near Kharg Island on 10/5, asserting that there were no incidents involving storage tanks, pipelines, loading facilities, or oil tankers operating near the island. Iranian MP Jafar Pourkabganim declared the slick to be "excess oil and ballast water discharged by European oil tankers." He added that claims of Iran discharging oil into the sea due to full storage tanks are "false and part of the enemy's psychological warfare operations."

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) suggests that the phenomenon is likely related to incidents caused by aging infrastructure, pipeline ruptures on Kharg Island, or conflicts threatening oil shipping routes in the region since the end of February.

Dr. Kaveh Madani, a UN official, highlighted the importance of understanding the slick's cause and monitoring the situation closely. "We need to focus on the cause of the slick and closely track the situation. The slick is moving southwest of Kharg Island. If it approaches populated areas, desalination plants in the region would have to cease operations," Dr. Madani stated. He noted that the slick is located near an area with extensive oil and gas pipelines and infrastructure. Maintaining these systems has been challenging for Iran even in peacetime due to numerous sanctions. The UN official warned that "a significant risk of accidents exists" amidst the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US - Israel.

Location of Kharg Island. *CNBC*

Dr. Madani recalled that similar incidents occurred during the Iran - Iraq War and other conflicts in the Gulf, impacting coastal communities, the fishing industry, marine life, and water intake for desalination plants. The appearance of these suspected oil slicks coincides with US sanctions on Iranian ports, which have hindered the country's ability to export oil by sea. This situation has likely forced Iran to store oil in onshore facilities and on Kharg Island.

Kharg Island, situated in the Persian Gulf, is approximately 25 km off the Iranian coast and over 480 km from the Strait of Hormuz. The island measures about 6 km in length and has an area of 20 square kilometers. Its facilities possess a processing capacity of 7 million barrels of oil per day, and 90% of Iran's crude oil exports pass through the island.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, Reuters, AP, Fox News)