Uproar over massive oil spillage

Burst pipe leaks 10 tonnes of crude oil and it goes undetected until alerted by members of the public.

PORT DICKSON: About 10 tonnes of crude petroleum which leaked from a burst pipe while it was being transferred from a tanker went undetected until a public uproar over the incident.

The incident, which happened about a month ago, has got M Ravi, the Port Dickson assemblyman, all riled up and he wants an explanation from Shell, the company involved.

“The crude oil was supposed to reach a storage tank. Because of the burst pipe, a huge amount of oil spilled out into monsoons drains and eventually into the open sea,” said Ravi.

“How is it that Shell which is involved in the refinery process did not detect the spillage? Its public relations department confirmed that almost 10 tonnes of crude was recovered.

“Does Shell not have mechanisms in place to detect such a large spillage? Yes, it had done the necessary clean up, but why only after it had been alerted to it by the public? asked Ravi.

“The Port Dickson Municipal Council (PDMC) and the Negeri Sembilan Department of Environment (DOE) should have been more proactive in detecting the spillage.”

Ravi added that it now becoming an environmental disaster as whenever it rained, the residual oil surfaces from drains, and a foul smell can be detected in the nearby Taman Nesa and Taman Setia housing estates.

“When the water level subsides after a heavy downpout, residents in the housing estates have to contend with oil stains on the floors, walls, carpets and cushions of their homes.

“Shell handed out hampers to the residents of the housing area in an attempt to pacify them but that is simply not enough,” said Ravi who promised to raise this issue at the coming state assembly sitting to be held in November.