Malaysia gas pipeline fire: Gas pipelines are no-go zones, experts say
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The April 1 blast affected 1,254 people from 308 families in the area.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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PETALING JAYA, Selangor – The area around gas pipelines has to be stringently protected at all times, with no unauthorised work allowed there.
Even the trimming of grass in a gazetted area has to be done with the owner’s permission and oversight, say experts.
“As long as the gas pipeline area is not disturbed and the gazetted area is respected, there is no reason for residents living near underground gas pipelines to worry,” said Mr Zakariah Yusoff, a former Petronas safety and health officer.
Mr Zakariah, who worked in the upstream sector and maintained gas pipelines for 24 years, said Petronas prioritised public safety when laying out pipelines.
He was commenting on the fire involving a Petronas gas pipeline
The blast affected 1,254 people from 308 families in the area.
A total of 87 houses suffered “total loss” while 148 other houses that were damaged need repairs.
Mr Zakariah said the owners of gas pipelines should have the final say on any work done in the gazetted area.
“If the owner of the pipelines – which in Malaysia is mostly Petronas – says no works or development should be done in that area, no one should go against that decision. They know best about the dangers,” he said.
“If there is any digging to be done within the vicinity of the gas pipelines, the local authorities need to bring Petronas in to ensure that it is safe to do so.
“Based on my experience, the central control room of that area would also monitor the pressure inside the pipeline. The moment there is low pressure, we would know there is a problem and detect the point of drop in pressure.
“This way, a leak can be detected. The standard operating procedures include evacuating residents and people nearby immediately.” He added that the system put in place to monitor the pipelines and the gazetted area used the highest technology.
He said any possible encroachment near gas pipelines is always handled with coordination between the local authorities and Petronas.
A total of 87 houses suffered “total loss” while 148 other houses that were damaged need repairs.
PHOTO: AFP
Terengganu local government, housing and health committee deputy chairman Saiful Azmi Suhaili said that as most of the methane gas being channelled throughout the peninsula comes from the state, there is a lot of pressure on the state government to ensure gas pipelines are safe.
Mr Saiful Azmi said: “The gases from offshore are first piped to Kerteh in Trengganu and then processed into clear methane, before this safe-to-use gas is transported to Segamat in Johor via gas pipelines using 36ft diameter pipes.
“The gas is then moved to destinations throughout the peninsula to industrial areas. These gas pipelines are highly secure to ensure there is no leakage. Generally, they run underground through areas which are away from any possible disturbances. If there are residential areas nearby, the monitoring and maintaining system is optimal.”
He added that no development is allowed in these areas unless there is clearance from Petronas.
“For example, when we wanted to build the East Coast Rail Link, which runs through areas where gas pipelines are buried, the stakeholders were ordered to work with Petronas. A bridge crossing over the gas pipeline area in Kemasik, Terengganu, could be built only after much study.
“It took much time as Petronas had to assess any dangers in such a development,” said Mr Saiful Azmi, who is a qualified electrical engineer.
He said all local authorities must be extra-careful about any development or work near gas pipelines to prevent catastrophes like what happened in Putra Heights. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
