The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced that there is no more oil leak observed in the cooling water discharge channel after Shell shut down its oil processing unit following an incident at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park at Pulau Bukom on 26 December.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and National Environment Agency (NEA) were informed by Shell that they have shut down one of its oil processing units at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park at Pulau Bukom, to facilitate investigation into a suspected leak in the system. The oil processing unit is used to produce refined oil products such as diesel. Water drawn from the sea is used as part of the process to cool the refined oil products in the unit. On 26 December Shell estimated that a few tonnes of the refined oil products were leaked, together with the cooling water discharge.
Furthermore, Shell in response had deployed containment and absorbent booms, activated an oil skimmer, and sprayed dispersants in the channel where cooling water is discharged. Boats were used to clean up light oil sheens off Pulau Bukom.
On 28 December Singapore announced that the leak stopped and the clean up was completed. According to the joint statement, the NEA is investigating the incident with MPA, and actions will be taken if any wrongdoing or lapse is discovered. The leak in Shell’s oil processing unit is a different system from Shell’s earlier slop pipeline leak on 20 October 2024.
