South Africa Cleans Oil Spill as Transnet Fights Pipeline Theft

South Africa’s state-owned pipeline operator said it’s cleaning up a crude oil spill in the eastern city of Durban that was caused by attempted fuel theft, a practice that’s been ongoing despite measures taken by the company.

Tampering caused a spill on Oct. 19 that contaminated the uMbilo River and reached the harbor area as an emergency response team was deployed, said Transnet SOC Ltd., whose pipeline unit maintains 3,800 kilometers (2,360 miles) of high-pressure petroleum and gas pipelines. The company estimates as much as 60,000 liters of crude oil was leaked.

Transnet Pipelines has had over 80 incidents ...