LIBREVILLE, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Operations have been halted following a major crude oil leak at Cap Lopez terminal, near Port-Gentil, Gabon's economic capital, the terminal's operator said on Friday.

       "The priority is the safety of people and facilities. Operations of receiving, storing, and shipping the crude oil remain suspended," Perenco, the Anglo-French energy firm that manages the terminal, said in a statement.

       On Thursday, at 11:00 a.m. local time, an oil leak was reported on one storage tank at Cap Lopez Terminal, located near Port-Gentil, in Gabon's southwestern province of Ogooue Maritime.

       The defective tank contained 50,000 cubic meters, or 300,000 barrels, of crude oil awaiting loading for export.

       According to Perenco, all the oil could be contained in the holding tanks, and no marine pollution has been reported at this stage.

       "The teams are hard at work to install floating dams as a preventive measure (against pollution)," the statement said.

       A source close to the government told Xinhua that the oil and environment ministers will visit the site on Saturday.

       Gabon producers 11 million to 12 million tonnes of oil a year.