Latest news with #Petroleum(SafetyMeasures)Act1984
The Sun
02-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Call for independent probe into Petronas over blast
PETALING JAYA: Environmental watchdog RimbaWatch has urged the Selangor government to launch an independent inquiry into Petronas Gas Berhad and several government agencies following the April 1 gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, which injured 145 people and damaged over 200 homes. The call comes after a report by the Occupational Safety and Health Department concluded that the blast was caused by unstable soil and groundwater accumulation, leading to 24.3cm of soil subsidence over 25 years. The report, released on Monday, found no evidence of negligence. RimbaWatch has challenged this conclusion, arguing that Malaysian law defines negligence as the failure to exercise reasonable care, particularly when such failure results in harm. 'Given this definition, a number of questions remain unanswered,' the group said in a statement. Citing the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984 and Gas Supply Act 1993, RimbaWatch stressed that pipeline operators may bear civil or criminal liability if faults in design, monitoring or maintenance are found. It said Petronas has consistently promoted its pipeline infrastructure as long-lasting and monitored using advanced systems, including aerial and ground patrols, and real-time technologies such as Scada and PiriGIS. Given these capabilities, RimbaWatch questioned how such significant soil movement went unnoticed. It pointed out that environmental impact assessments (EIA) have been mandatory since 1988 and questioned whether the original EIA for the pipeline, laid in 2000, adequately accounted for long-term geological risks, such as groundwater buildup and subsidence. 'Who approved the EIA and who was responsible for monitoring its implementation over the years?' It also highlighted a history of pipeline failures, particularly the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline, which has reportedly experienced explosions and leaks since 2014 and was decommissioned earlier this year due to persistent maintenance problems. 'This raises serious doubts about whether Petronas has put in place more stringent monitoring of high-risk pipeline sections, particularly after its experience with the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline.' RimbaWatch also called for scrutiny of government agencies involved in land-use planning, questioning how approval was given to build dense housing near a major gas pipeline. The organisation warned that framing the disaster as purely environmental, with no accountability assigned, reflects a broader trend in Malaysia's response to environmental disasters. It cited the 2022 Kampung Iboi floods and Batang Kali landslide as examples in which systemic accountability was lacking. To underscore its point, RimbaWatch referred to the 2018 Revolution Pipeline explosion in Pennsylvania, which was similarly triggered by a landslide but resulted in nine criminal charges and a US$30 million (RM125.82 million) fine for the operator. 'We call for the Selangor government to commission an independent investigation, supported by local, regional and international experts in engineering, health and safety, geology, and law, to address these critical questions and uphold economic and environmental justice for the residents of Putra Heights,' it said. RimbaWatch stressed that such a probe must be independent, warning that fossil fuel companies and regulators should not be allowed to escape potential responsibility for a disaster of this magnitude. At a press conference on Monday, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said investigations into the gas pipeline explosion at Putra Heights concluded that the incident was not caused by sabotage or negligence but rather by long-term ground subsidence. He also said police found no evidence of sabotage or negligence contributing to the incident. The investigation was led by the Occupational Safety and Health Department, alongside the Minerals and Geoscience Department, Public Works Department, Fire and Rescue Department and police.
Malaysian Reserve
30-06-2025
- Malaysian Reserve
Putra Heights gas explosion: DOSH confirms pipe met technical specs
SHAH ALAM — The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has confirmed that the gas pipe involved in the Putra Heights inferno last April met all the required technical specifications. DOSH Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat said that, on the contrary, laboratory analysis revealed that the lower part of the pipe was not fully supported by the soil, which was found soft and damp, thus putting pressure on the surface of the pipe. He said that the weakened soil condition had caused repeated cyclic loading, resulting in stress lines and fatigue striations on the pipe's surface. 'This resulted in physical failure in the pipe at the scene, causing a gas leak that ignited (and led to the explosion). 'Metallographic analysis also showed that tensile overload was the main cause of the failure and that this damage developed slowly until it caused a ductile failure which released gas and sparked a fire,' he told a special press conference to announce the investigation report on the incident here today. Also present were Selangor Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan. Elaborating, Husdin said DOSH, in collaboration with the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG), Public Works Department (JKR), Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), had conducted a comprehensive investigation into the incident over nearly three months. During that period, he said five samples were collected and sent to SIRIM, a premier standard and industrial research organisation, for laboratory testing, which began on April 15 and concluded on May 8. He explained that the investigation methodology included on-site inspections, laboratory analysis, systems review, computer simulations, and hypothesis validation, which took into consideration pipeline operations, structural integrity, material conditions, and external stress factors. 'Based on findings from all agencies involved, we identified three critical elements: the pipeline fracture occurred at a welded joint due to tensile stress, the soil beneath was soft and loose, and there was significant cyclic loading prior to the failure and subsequent fire. 'In conclusion, the pipeline failure was caused by unstable soil conditions that were insufficient to support the weight and pressure of the pipe. This led to instability, leakage, and eventually, an explosion,' he said. Husdin said the investigation was conducted under the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Act 2022 and the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984. He also confirmed that no elements of sabotage or negligence were found. As a preventive measure, DOSH has directed Petronas to identify and review all high-risk segments along its 2,680-kilometre gas pipeline stretching from Jerteh, Terengganu, to Singapore. 'Petronas has already identified these areas and has been instructed to carry out immediate remedial work along the affected segments,' he added, declining to disclose the exact locations for security reasons. — BERNAMA
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Ground subsidence behind Putra Heights pipeline explosion, says DOSH
SHAH ALAM: Ground subsidence has been identified as the cause of the underground pipeline explosion in Putra Heights on April 1, authorities said The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Malaysia Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat said the ground beneath the pipe was not being strong enough to support the weight and pressure of the pipe, causing it to become unstable, leak and eventually explode. He said based on the findings, the gas pipe involved in the incident met all technical and safety specifications. "However, the lower part of the pipe was found to be not fully supported by the soil (unsupported segment) which was identified as soft and damp. "This resulted in a physical failure of the pipe section at the incident location, causing a gas leak that caught fire. "This weak soil caused the pipe to move repeatedly (cyclic loading), which created stress lines and fatigue striations on the pipe surface," he told a press conference today. Husdin said the metallography analysis showed that tensile overload was the main cause of the failure. "This damage developed slowly until it caused ductile failure which released gas and started a fire. "In conclusion, the pipe failure was caused by the soil under the pipe not being strong enough to support the weight and pressure of the pipe, causing it to become unstable, leak and eventually explode. "The location of this failure was not due to activities on the ground surface, but because the soil underneath did not support it well." He said DOSH conducted a comprehensive investigation for almost three months in collaboration with the Department of Minerals and Geosciences, the Public Works Department, the Fire and Rescue Department and the police. The investigation was conducted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Amendment 2022) and the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984. The investigation process involved visual inspections at the scene, measurements and checks of gas pipe components and the collection of samples for laboratory analysis. On April 1, a massive fire broke out at a Petronas gas pipeline in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, causing widespread panic as flames shot into the air. The heat from the flames, visible for kilometres away, melted plastic and metal within a wide radius of the pipeline. Some 145 people, including three children, were affected, with a number of victims suffering second-degree burns. A total of 227 houses and 365 vehicles were damaged in residential areas near the pipeline.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang steps up gas pipeline monitoring after Putra Heights blast
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is stepping up checks on gas pipelines in the state to ensure a Putra Heights-like disaster does not happen. State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari (DAP-Tanjung Bunga) said the state Disaster Management Committee was reviewing matters related to policy, strategy, directives, action plans and the overall direction of disaster management. He said the committee was chaired by the state secretary and met twice a year. Zairil said all relevant departments and agencies, including district officers who chair district Disaster Management Committees, were also reviewing these matters. "To ensure safety, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) annually audits pipeline operators, including inspections such as hydrostatic and pneumatic testing. "These audits are part of efforts to enforce the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984. "Pipeline safety is national safety. DOSH monitors for leaks, verifies permits and takes immediate action when standards are not met. "Generally, inspection results are satisfactory, with operators complying with the legal requirements," he said in response to questions from Lee Khai Loon (DAP-Machang Bubuk), Zulkefli Bakar (Bersatu-Penanti), Phee Syn Tze (DAP-Sungai Puyu) and Abidin Ismail (Pas-Sungai Bakap). Zairil said DOSH also conducted surprise inspections on pipelines and issued directives to ensure compliance with the law. He said any leakage risks were managed periodically and in a controlled manner based on technical inspection results. "Immediate corrective action orders are issued to operators to ensure risks remain under control," he added. The Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) pipeline, operated by Petronas Gas Bhd and owned by Petronas, runs for 42km through Penang. It enters from the Sungai Kerian border and continues through towns such as Relau, Machang Bubuk, Mengkuang, Ara Kuda, Kampung Selamat and Pinang Tunggal before crossing into Kedah. Another 23km pipeline supplies natural gas to three key power stations: SKS Prai Power Plant, TNB Prai and TNB Gelugor. The Putra Heights pipeline explosion early last month caused a towering inferno that damaged 219 homes, with losses estimated at RM65.4 million. The full report into the disaster is expected some time this month.
