Mobil is in the process of paying the first of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council clean-up bills following the April 27 oil spill in Tauranga Harbour.

'We promised we would reimburse the direct costs for the clean-up to the council and the first invoice for $421,307.80 has been paid. A second invoice for $270,000 is currently being processed,” says Mobil Oil NZ country manager Andrew McNaught.

Clean-up operations continue in the Tauranga Harbour.

'We have taken full responsibility for the incident and we are deeply sorry it occurred.

'We also said we would meet all reasonable costs for cleaning and repair of damage to private property. We have made a number of these payments. In the case of boat cleaning, we are directly paying the boat cleaning company to expedite and make the process easier for everyone.”

So far 166 claims with a total value of $308,000 have been received, the majority related to impacted boats.

The Regional Council is handing responsibility for the completion of the final clean-up operations to Mobil Oil NZ.

Clean-up operations at Matakana, Rangiwaea Island, Pilot Bay and Sandy Bay have been signed off by the authorities.

In consultation with the regional council, iwi and other third parties, Mobil will implement a recovery plan setting out the management and any work needed to monitor these areas.

An estimated 1.5 tonnes of heavy fuel oil poured into the harbour from a leak in the under wharf re-fuelling pipeline.

The pipeline remains shut down and re-fuelling ships now takes place at the Cement/tanker berth.

Mobil will not recommence refuelling from the bunker pipeline until there is full confidence in its integrity, and that it has done everything it can to mitigate the risk of another incident, says Andrew.

He expects it will be about three months before the bunker line is again operational.

Mobil expects it will be at least three months before the line is operational again.

Claims can continue to be directed to 0800 692 524.