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Oman’s Environment Authority has launched a major remediation effort to restore beach sand affected by a marine oil spill along the coast of Dhofar Governorate. The initiative, led by the Environmental Emergency Center, focuses on cleaning contaminated sand from Awqad Beach and returning it safely to its original location in Salalah.
To carry out the project, the Authority is working with Swiss-Omani firm Arva Greentech Remediation SPC, which uses an advanced, environmentally approved, emission-free technology to treat oil-polluted waste. This innovative approach ensures that the remediation process is both safe and sustainable.
The project was formally inaugurated in the presence of senior officials and representatives from the Swiss Embassy and Arva Greentech. During the event, the Arvox SRT treatment facility was activated, marking a key milestone in Oman’s efforts to address marine pollution and protect its coastal ecosystems.
The oil spill occurred in July and impacted a wide stretch of coastline, extending from Khor Salalah to Awqad Beach and parts of Raysut Beach. The incident raised concerns about potential environmental damage, but rapid action by the Environment Authority and other national bodies successfully prevented the pollution from spreading further.
Specialized teams from the Directorate General of Environment in Dhofar, working closely with Dhofar Municipality and other relevant organizations, quickly removed the polluted material. The cleanup was conducted under the National Oil Spill Response Plan, with support from Salalah Port and certified environmental protection companies.
In total, contaminated sand covering around 2.5 kilometers of shoreline was collected and transported to a temporary treatment facility in Muscat. There, approximately 25,000 bags of polluted soil were processed at the Arvox SRT Plant through screening and homogenization before treatment.
Representatives from Arva Greentech described the project as a major step forward in environmental restoration. They emphasized that returning treated soil to its original beach location is being implemented safely and naturally for the first time, helping to rehabilitate Oman’s coastline and safeguard its marine environment for the future.
