Shell is in trouble after a major oil leak in Singapore waters

Shell has confirmed an oil leak from a pipeline at its Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore on Pulau Bukom island, spilling about 30-40 tonnes of sludge – a mixture of oil and water.

The incident, which occurred at around 5:30 a.m. on October 20, 2024, triggered a rapid emergency response to contain the spill in the East Johor Strait within Singapore waters.

Despite Shell’s quick response, oil sheens were discovered in the water channel between Pulau Bukom Besar and Bukom Kecil late this morning. Shell deployed containment booms and anti-pollution vehicles and used dispersants to break up the oil slick.

Shell said it was coordinating efforts with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and other relevant authorities to mitigate the impact of the oil spill. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

“Our priority is to keep people safe and limit the impact on the environment while we work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible,” Shell said in an official statement. The company also expressed its appreciation for the cooperation of authorities and local communities in assisting with the cleanup effort.

MPA deployed seven dispersant-equipped vessels along with vessels from its contractor Singapore Salvage Engineers. Additionally, additional precautionary measures have been taken to protect Singapore’s key ecological areas.

As of October 21, no oil had been discovered in sensitive locations including Sentosa, Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, Labrador Nature Reserve and East Coast Park. However, preventative measures have been taken, including the use of oil absorption barriers, to protect these biodiversity-sensitive coastlines.

Oil booms have also been installed near the seawater intake of Singapore’s desalination plants at Jurong Island and Marina East. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) closely monitors water quality and power plant operations were not affected by the oil spill. As a precautionary measure, the PUB has installed additional security barriers at the Marina Barrage.

The leak has raised concerns among businesses and port operators in the region. Authorities have advised businesses on Jurong Island and the Western Region to take precautionary measures. Although there are no reports of oil sightings at local fish farms, the Singapore Food Authority continues to be in touch with farm operators to ensure vigilance in the coming days.

Shell has also ordered authorities in Indonesia and Malaysia to monitor for possible oil sightings along their coasts, although no cross-border impacts have been reported so far.

The incident occurred as authorities responded to another incident in Singapore waters that resulted in a fire in the tanker’s smokestack Mediterranean Atlantic. Details of this incident can be found here.