ECRL Work Halted - Petronas Gas Pipeline Leak, Safety Zone Declared

Authorities are racing to contain a pipeline leak involving Petronas Gas Berhad (PGB) at the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project site near Kemaman, with safety measures stepped up as gas burn-off operations continue.

According to Malay Mail, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Terengganu has ordered the company involved to submit a full report. The agency said it will carry out a complete investigation and pursue legal action if there are breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, which carries penalties of up to RM500,000 in fines, two years’ jail, or both.

DOSH officers have already conducted preliminary checks and issued a prohibition notice, halting all construction in the area until it is confirmed safe. Police, meanwhile, have declared the site a restricted zone with 24-hour security and closed the main Kerteh-Ranggon road to traffic.

Bernama reported that PGB had shut two main valves and begun evacuating gas from the pipeline. A portable flare was installed at 3.30 am today to burn off the remaining butane, with a second flare unit from Kulim due to arrive this evening.

Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad told the news agency the controlled burn and nitrogen purging will take about 48 hours along the 9.6 km line. He assured residents there was no danger of an explosion.

“Readings show only about 1% of butane in the air within 400 metres. It’s actually safe to work at that distance, but we are maintaining a 500-metre buffer to avoid any untoward incidents,” he said.

Police confirmed the leak, located about two kilometres from the main road, did not affect any villages or residential areas. No injuries have been reported so far.