SINGAPORE: The recent oil leak at Shell's refinery on Pulau Bukom has been officially contained, and the cleanup of affected waters has been finalized, according to a joint announcement made by several government agencies on December 28.

Initial reports indicated that a suspected leak from an oil processing unit at the refinery resulted in the discharge of some refined oil products into the nearby waters. The oil sheens were first detected alongside the refinery's wharf on Thursday, compelling authorities to enact immediate containment measures.

Preliminary evaluations suggested that several tonnes of refined oil products, mixed with cooling water discharge, made their way into the sea. After Shell shuttered its oil processing unit the following day, monitoring by the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) revealed no further leakage in the cooling water discharge channel.

Government bodies, including the National Environment Agency (NEA), the National Parks Board (NParks), and the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), are actively investigating the incident. They noted that the rapid response helped mitigate potential risks. Shell's internal survey placed the discovery of the oil sheens at approximately 9:30 am on Thursday, with notifications sent to relevant authorities just hours later.

Containment efforts were robust. Shell deployed absorbent booms and dispersant sprays in the affected discharge channel. MPA mobilized three patrol vessels on Friday to assist in the swift cleanup efforts. Fortunately, monitoring revealed no impacts on public safety or environmentally sensitive areas, and beaches in Sentosa remained open for recreational activities.

In a precautionary move, oil-absorbent booms have been set up at Sisters' Islands Marine Park to ensure any residual effects are effectively addressed. NEA confirmed ongoing investigations into the circumstances around the leak, pledging to hold Shell accountable for any identified negligence.

Shell has committed to cooperating fully with authorities throughout the investigation. A company spokesperson remarked, "We are working closely with relevant agencies to monitor the situation and are eager to learn from this incident to enhance our safety operations."

It's worth noting that this leak differs substantially from an earlier incident on October 20, when approximately 30 to 40 metric tonnes of "slop"—a mixture of oil and water—were released from a land-based pipeline. Shell faced scrutiny for taking over seven hours to inform authorities in that case, prompting NEA to mandate a thorough pipeline integrity inspection across the Bukom facility.

As Singapore confronts challenges concerning industrial safety and environmental responsibility, this incident serves as a critical reminder of the need for stringent oversight and quick action in mitigating potential disasters. How will Shell's approach to managing its facilities evolve in the wake of this incident? Stay tuned for developments!