Yet another oil spill has affected oil major Shell’s refinery in Singapore. A joint statement from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), National Environment Agency (NEA), National Parks Board (NParks) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said that a processing unit that produces diesel at Shell’s Pulau Bukom refinery has been shut down to facilitate investigations. The refined oil products in the unit are cooled with water from the sea.
The government agencies noted: “Shell estimated that a few tonnes of the refined oil products were leaked, together with the cooling water discharge.
“Containment and absorbent booms have been laid at the mouth of the channel, to prevent residual oil leaked from spreading into the sea. No oil patches are currently observed in the vicinity of Pulau Bukom.”
Shell has placed containment and absorbent booms and sprayed dispersants in the channel where the cooling water is being discharged. The in-built oil skimmer system in the channel has also been activated.
Oil absorbent booms will also be laid at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park and the beaches on Sentosa.
The government agencies added that physical bunker deliveries in Singapore are unaffected and navigational traffic in the area is not impacted.
On 21 October, a mixture of oil and water leaked from Shell refinery’s land-based pipeline into the sea. The cleanup was completed within a week.
In May, Shell sold its Singapore refineries, including the Pulau Bukom facility, to CAPGC, a joint venture comprising Indonesia’s Chandra Asri Capital and global commodities trader Glencore, to reduce its carbon emissions and unlock liquidity. The transaction is expected to be finalised at year-end.
Alison Koo
Asia Correspondent
