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Malaysia – Fire At Petronas’ RAPID Oil Refinery Quickly Tamed – Video

Malaysia – Fire at Petronas’ RAPID Oil Refinery Quickly Tamed – Video

* No fatalities in fire at RAPID refinery, Petronas says

* Fire contained within 30 minutes, with two slightly injured

KUALA LUMPUR,  – A fire was brought under control early on Friday after an explosion at a Malaysian oil refinery being developed by state oil firm Petronas, which was testing its facilities ahead of planned commercial operations later this year.

RAPID, or Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development, will anchor the Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) and is Petronas’ biggest domestic investment, made in a 50-50 partnership with Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Saudi Aramco.

The explosion and fire occurred at about 1:25 a.m. on Friday (1725 GMT on Thursday) at the plant’s atmospheric residue desulphurisation unit (ARDS), which is in its commissioning stage, Petronas said in an updated statement.

Petronas said there were no fatalities caused by the explosion and fire. The fire was contained within 30 minutes, it had said earlier.

“We wish to assure members of the public that the situation is under control and there is no health related risk to this incident,” the company said in its latest statement.

Police said two people were given outpatient treatment following the incident, which was attended to by five fire trucks and 30 staff from the Petronas RAPID Pengerang emergency response team.

“Teams have been set up and are currently working closely with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident,” Petronas said.

Petronas started trial runs at the refinery in early 2019 and had planned to start offering some products in April.

The fire will likely set back plans for the refinery to reach commercial operations by October as several units will have to be shut for further inspection, Energy Aspects’ analyst Nevyn Nah said.

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