The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR) has carried out the main annual marine drill for oil spills in the Mediterranean Sea at El-Hamra Petroleum Port, New Alamein. The operation aims to test the effectiveness of emergency plans for dealing with marine oil pollution incidents. It assesses the speed of response and coordination among the concerned bodies, and ensures the readiness of personnel and equipment to handle the situation, said the Ministry. 

The drill, called “New Egypt 2”, was conducted by the Western Desert Operating Petroleum Company (WEPCO) in cooperation with Petroleum Safety and Environmental Services Company (PetroSafe) where they have simulated a scenario of crude oil leakage from a passing vessel along the navigation route opposite El-Hamra Port due to bad weather conditions.

According to the Ministry’s statement, the drill demonstrated the high efficiency of participating teams in quickly detecting oil spill incidents, deploying emergency crews to secure sensitive facilities, and initiating containment and cleanup operations. It also showcased the effective field coordination among sector companies and response centers.