Joseph Sipalan Reuters 12 Apr 19;
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A fire was brought under control early on Friday after an explosion at a Malaysian oil refinery being developed by state oil firm Petronas, which was testing its facilities ahead of planned commercial operations later this year.
RAPID, or Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development, will anchor the Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) and is Petronas’ biggest domestic investment, made in a 50-50 partnership with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Saudi Aramco.
The explosion and fire occurred at about 1:25 a.m. on Friday (1725 GMT on Thursday) at the plant’s atmospheric residue desulphurisation unit (ARDS), which is in its commissioning stage, Petronas said in an updated statement.
Petronas said there were no fatalities caused by the explosion and fire. The fire was contained within 30 minutes, it had said earlier.
“We wish to assure members of the public that the situation is under control and there is no health related risk to this incident,” the company said in its latest statement.
Police said two people were given outpatient treatment following the incident, which was attended to by five fire trucks and 30 staff from the Petronas RAPID Pengerang emergency response team.
“Teams have been set up and are currently working closely with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident,” Petronas said.
Petronas started trial runs at the refinery in early 2019 and had planned to start offering some products in April.
The fire will likely set back plans for the refinery to reach commercial operations by October as several units will have to be shut for further inspection, Energy Aspects’ analyst Nevyn Nah said.
Petronas did not immediately respond to an email seeking information on how the fire would affect its start-up plans.
The ARDS unit removes sulfur from fuel oil which is then passed through a residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) - a secondary refining unit that upgrades residual fuels into higher quality products such as gasoline. The ARDS unit is located close to the refinery’s crude distillation units.
The refinery, which will process around 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil once fully operational, is expected to come online later this year, and sell fuel to customers in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia.
Map of Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) in Malaysia - tmsnrt.rs/2IfNta8
Explosion at Petronas oil and gas complex in Johor injures two, damages houses
Straits Times 12 Apr 19;
KUALA LUMPUR - Two men were injured after a fire and explosion occurred early on Friday morning (April 12) at an oil refinery being developed by Malaysian oil firm Petronas in Johor.
Petronas said the incident occurred at 1.25am at the Pengerang Integrated Complex. It said its emergency and fire response team was deployed and the fire contained within 30 minutes.
"The situation is under control and all relevant authorities have been informed," it said. "We will provide additional information in due course, as the investigation is still being carried out."
Police said two men, who were locals aged 28 and 30 and believed to be working as security guards at the site, were injured in the incident, The Star reported.
Bernama reported that more than 10 houses in Kampung Lepau near Pengerang were believed to have been damaged.
Kota Tinggi district police officer Ashmon Bajah confirmed the incident, saying that the fire took place at one of the project sites within the complex.
“The Petronas (emergency and response team) received the report and deployed five fire engines with 30 firemen, and they were able to control and put out the fire at around 2.15am," he said. “Two locals, who work as security personnel at the site, were injured and have received outpatient treatment at the Rapid Pengerang emergency centre.”
He added that a joint investigation was currently underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Singapore's National Environment Agency said in a Facebook post around noon on Friday that it is closely monitoring the situation and air quality in the Republic in relation to the explosion.
It added that the 24-hr PSI has been in the low-moderate range since 1am, while the 1-hour PM2.5 readings remained in Band I (Normal). Ambient levels of volatile organic compounds along Singapore's coast also remain within safe levels.
NEA said it is in contact with the Department of Environment (Johor) and will provide updates if there are changes to the situation.
Media reports suggested that the explosion was triggered by a leaking gas tank.
Comments on social media have suggested that the blast caused tremors that could be felt by residents of nearby residential areas and as far off as Pasir Gudang, located about 50km away.
Video footage allegedly of the incident has been circulating online, showing a large fire and thick smoke rising up to the sky from the facility.
Mohd Azizi Mahmun, 24, who lives in nearby Taman Ramunia Indah in Pengerang, said he felt as though there was a strong "kick" on the door of his house when the incident occurred. “I was asleep during the incident, and woke up due to the strong vibration,” he told Bernama. “It also set off car alarms in the area. My neighbours and I then came out (of our houses) and saw smoke and fire in the area,” said Mohd Azizi, who is the site coordinator for a company at the complex.
In Kampung Lepau, about 1km from the Petronas facility, home owner Abd Rahim Sanusi, 85, said he was awakened when he heard the loud explosion, Bernama said.
“I have just undergone heart surgery, and was shocked (by the blast). When I got out of the room, I saw much of the ceiling in my house had come down,” he told Bernama.
He said there were also several cracks in the walls around the house.
Another villager, Abdul Halim Mahmood, 52, said he was just about to go to sleep at about 1.30 am when he heard a loud sound like that of a bomb exploding.
“I heard the sound of glass breaking, so I looked outside and found that my sliding door had shattered,” he said, adding there were also cracks in some of the walls.
Village chief Zainal Abidin Abd Rahim said he received calls from the other villagers. “Shortly after the incident, I contacted a Petronas representative to find out what had happened.
“Petronas then asked me to check each home to identify the types of damage incurred, and for those affected to lodge police reports,” Bernama quoted him as saying.
Bernama reported that the situation had returned to normal, with no trace of smoke left visible by 6.30am. It said a visit to the complex showed that it was operating as usual, with buses carrying workers and lorries heading in and out of the premises.
Reuters news agency reported that the refinery was testing its facilities ahead of planned commercial operations later this year. It said the complex will be anchored by Rapid, or Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development, and is Petronas’ biggest domestic investment in a 50-50 joint-venture with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Saudi Aramco.
Petronas is currently testing its systems at Rapid, running crude oil through its fuel processing units and labyrinth of pipes and producing large exhaust gas fires from its flare tower, Reuters reported.
The refinery, which will process around 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil once fully operational, is expected to come online later this year, and sell fuel to customers in Malaysia and across South-east Asia.
Massive blast at Johor Petronas facility felt in Singapore, say netizens
Today Online 12 Apr 19;
JOHOR BARU/SINGAPORE — The impact from an explosion at a Petronas oil and gas facility in Pengerang, Johor, in the early hours of Friday (April 12), was felt in Singapore, said netizens.
Shockwaves from the blast were felt by residents on the eastern side of the island, with users on news aggregator Reddit’s Singapore page discussing the incident early on Friday morning.
The explosion and fire occurred at the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Pengerang at 1.25am on Friday, Malaysian news reports said.
Reddit user dartlee, a Loyang resident, noted that noise from the blast lasted for two to three seconds and the “windows shook for roughly the same time”.
Other Reddit users also reported hearing a “loud boom” and rattling windows in areas including Pasir Ris and Punggol.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement on Friday that it is closely monitoring the situation and the air quality in Singapore.
The 24-hr Pollutant Standards Index since 1am has been in the low-moderate range, while the 1-hr PM2.5 readings remained in Band I (Normal), said NEA.
The ambient levels of volatile organic compounds along Singapore’s coast remain within safe levels, added the agency.
According to the Malay Mail, two local workers suffered minor injuries during the incident and received outpatient treatment at the RAPID Pengerang’s medical emergency centre.
Kota Tinggi police chief Superintendent Ahsmon Bajah said the fire broke out at a project lot in the facility where the Petronas RAPID Pengerang Emergency Fire and Response Team (ERT) was immediately deployed.
“A total of five fire engines and 30 personnel managed to contain the blaze and later extinguish the fire at 2.15am,” he said in a statement.
Mr Ahsmon said investigations to identify the cause of the explosion and fire will involve the Johor Safety, Security and Environment Committee; the District Disaster Committee; and Petronas RAPID Pengerang's safety management.
He also praised the Petronas RAPID Pengerang’s ERT for their quick response to contain the incident.
According to earlier social media posts, the blast was loud enough to be heard within a 50km radius of the project.
It was learnt that the explosion and subsequent fire were due to a leaking gas tank at the facility.
In a statement on Friday morning, Petronas confirmed the incident at its facility within the Pengerang Integrated Complex that the RAPID project comes under.
“Our ERT was deployed and the fire was contained within 30 minutes. The situation is under control and all relevant authorities have been informed,” the state oil firm said.
It added that its management will provide additional information once investigations are done. AGENCIES
