Bangkok: The oil leak point in the Rama 3 pipeline has been found, prompting the Ministry of Energy to urge BAFS and Bangchak to take responsibility. The Ministry of Energy has discovered an oil leak in the Rama III oil pipeline and is demanding that BAFS and Bangchak take responsibility. The Department of Energy Business has outlined three solutions.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Thitiphas Chotdechachainant, Secretary to the Minister of Energy, revealed the progress of the investigation into the oil spill incident on Chuea Phloeng Road, under the Rama 3 elevated bridge. Previously, officials had excavated the area and found underground cavities, as well as water containing oil mixed with sediment in the old drainage system. Therefore, the investigation area has been expanded to locate the source of the oil spill.
Recently, an investigation revealed an oil leak from a pipeline near Rama 3 Road. The pipeline system is licensed by BAFS Pipeline Transport Co., Ltd. (BPT), while Bangkok Fuel Pipeline and Logistics Co., Ltd. (BFPL), a subsidiary of Bangchak Corporation, operates the pipeline system.
Ms. Thitipass stated that both companies must take responsibility for all the damages incurred and must comply with the instructions of the Department of Energy Business to ensure a systematic approach to problem resolution and to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Regarding the operational guidelines, the Department of Energy Business has established three key steps:
1. Expedite the identification and repair of damaged areas. Operators must quickly locate any defects or faults in the pipeline to carry out repairs as soon as possible. Simultaneously, pipeline owners must submit complete maintenance and repair records of the pipeline system to the Department of Energy Business for review, to aid in determining the cause and assessing the system's risk.
2. A 32-kilometer pipeline test will be conducted after the repairs are completed. This test will assess the internal condition of the system and identify areas at risk of leaks or other abnormalities. If any leakage or abnormality is detected during the test, the operation must be immediately halted for inspection and repair before continuing the test.
3. Replace pipes and reroute at high-risk areas. For areas where defects or damage are found, a pipe replacement plan and a pipe alignment plan must be developed to enhance safety, especially in areas where pipes are located under piers or other high-risk structures, to prevent recurrence of the problem in the future.