SEREMBAN (July 6): The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), through the Department of Environment (DOE), received a complaint about the emission of black smoke at a crude oil refinery in Port Dickson on June 19.

The ministry said in a statement that the emission of black smoke resulted in air pollution, and disturbed residents of nearby housing areas, including Taman Toh Kee Kah and Taman Mewah.

"Based on DOE investigations on the same day, the premises suffered a leak in the boiler, and the crude oil refining process underwent an emergency shutdown for safety purposes, resulting in the produced gas being channelled to the flare unit for combustion before being released,” the ministry said here on Saturday.

The gas burn-off at the flare unit caused the emission of black smoke due to incomplete combustion, and the entire process was stopped for remedial action by the refinery. 

The NRES said the DOE had issued an Order Notice under Section 31 and 37 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, so that the premise owners would submit a monitoring programme based on Regulation 22(1)(a) of the Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations 2014.

The NRES also said that the premise owners had informed nearby residents on July 2 about the start-up process scheduled for July 3 to 6.

"Residents were also informed of the possibility of a temporary disturbance, such as loud noises and emission of black smoke from the flare unit throughout the start-up process,” the ministry said, reminding all industry players that stern action would be taken against any premises caught polluting the environment.

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