Reficar Cartagena Refinery Expansion, Colombia - EKN

1101335.000 04F1 0611 MJ21
27
June 21, 2011
pattern and are limited to the short distance available for its production, with heights between
10 and 50 cm at the threshold of wind from 6 to 7 m/s.
The main source of sediments in the Cartagena Bay is the Canal del Dique, with a seasonal flow
estimated between 55 and 300 m 3 /s, with a sediment load of approximately 3,500,000 m 3 /year,
and is mainly silt and clay with a small percentage of sand. The water quality of the Cartagena
Bay is affected by a number of natural and anthropogenic factors and other industrial sources,
including sewage discharges from Cartagena; inputs of sediments, nutrients, and other
contaminants by the Canal del Dique; discharges from Mamonal industries; operation of ships
and port terminals; and several stream and direct runoffs into the Bay. The most recent
significant tanker spill was in 2005, when the SAETTA ship spilled approximately 33 tons of
fuel oil into the Bay.
Bay water quality is generally considered poor because of elevated levels of fecal coliforms,
biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen, and
low dissolved oxygen. The water quality monitoring results suggest that the Bay is stratified
into two layers. The upper layer is characterized by higher temperatures, pH, and dissolved
oxygen content, and lower values of conductivity and salinity. The underlying water layer
formed by the middle and deep stratum is characterized by higher salinity and lower
temperature (higher density), pH, and oxygen content. Significant differences in water quality
occur between the rainy and the dry season (e.g., decrease in surface temperature and a slight
increase in pH; greater contribution of organic matter to the Bay; and resultant increases in
BOD, COD, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, and greases and oils; and a significant decline in
dissolved oxygen and oxygen saturation). Historically, contaminated sediments have been
found in the Cartagena Bay (e.g., concentrations of mercury, 0.05−0.77 µg/g; cadmium,
0.15−1.44 µg/g; copper, 0.18−19.3 µg/g; iron, 160−1,444 μg/g; and aromatic hydrocarbons,
0.58−400 µg/g). Because of water quality issues, fishing in the Cartagena Bay is restricted.
However, there are some individual fishermen who fish mainly on the sides of Tierra Bomba
and Baru (south and southwest quadrants of the Cartagena Bay).