Malaysia gas pipeline fire: Gas released could fill over half a million 14kg cooking gas cylinders

PETALING JAYA - Gas released from a burst pipeline in Putra Heights, Selangor, which resulted in

an explosion in April

, was enough to fill more than half a million 14kg natural gas cylinders, transcripts from a Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Infrastructure, Transportation and Communication report showed.

Petroleum Safety Division director Husdin Che Amat said some 400 million standard cubic feet worth of gas was released, based on information obtained from the Fire and Rescue Department.

“To put it into comparison, it is akin to about 535,000 14kg natural gas cylinders that were released,” he said, according to Hansard, the official report of parliamentary proceedings.

He said it took seven seconds before catching fire, with 12,228 megajoules emitted prior to it.

Mr Husdin also referenced satellite images during the proceedings, which showed increasing developments at ground zero between 2007 to 2024.

The proceedings were held on Aug 8, and attended by various stakeholders.

Later during proceedings, Petronas Gas chief executive officer Abdul Aziz Othman said the pipeline was built in 1990, with a large section of the then area covered by jungle.

From a regulatory perspective, he said Petronas was also holding discussions with the Economy Ministry on measures to strengthen rules and regulations.

“For example, if there are developments around the area, we request for permission to conduct assessments on the impact.

“We are requesting this from the Economy Ministry, as the regulator for the Gas Supply Act, alongside regulations to help us control things,” he said, according to the Hansard.

The pipeline explosion on April 1, 2025 resulted in

511 homes being damaged

, with hundreds of residents also displaced.

Fires from the explosion exceeded 1,000 deg Celsius, with the flames rising more than 30m into the air. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK