The tank farm’s infrastructure dates back to the 1960s and it is believed the leak occured due to equipment failure.
Department spokesman Alistair Trier says the spill is significant, and the department is investigating.
“That’s a serious concern to us, because fuel entering the environment is a serious environmental risk,” he said.
“We directed them to take immediate action to primarily to clean it up to get it out of the environment.
“From there we will move into an investigation into the underlying causes.”
He says Rio Tinto Alcan has been instructed to dig recovery pits around the area for the fuel to leak into, and remove the fuel from the environment.
The company has also been asked to investigate the integrity of other containers at the site.
“As far as we are aware the others are OK at this stage,” he said.
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