GAS PIPE TESTING IN BUKIT MERAH AREA

Dr Chong Weng Chiew asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) why was combustible works such as gas pipe testing in the Bukit Merah area carried out from 6 to 7 pm, when human traffic could be high and (b) in the Bukit Merah case, where work was carried out near a library and a petrol station, why was the area not cordoned off.

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Dr Chong for his question. I share his concerns and it gives us an opportunity to give some perspective on this.

Why was it done in the first place? The reason is that parts of the existing network of gas pipelines in Singapore are ageing. It is more cost effective to rehabilitate the pipelines rather than to replace them with new ones. This will also avoid public inconvenience as our pipelines are laid under public roads.

Now pipeline rehabilitation is an established practice in the gas industry world-wide since the mid-1970s, and the technology has been refined over the years. This technology is used in Japan, Europe and the USA.

Why was it done when human traffic could be high? PowerGas had carried out high-pressure tests using compressed air on parts of the rehabilitated pipeline at Jalan Bukit Merah to check for their integrity. The international code of practice is for this test to be done over a duration of 32 hours. Pressure is gradually increased over 8 hours and then held at the final test pressure for 24 hours before being brought down gradually. As the test had to be done over an extended period, PowerGas was not able to avoid having the test done during the 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm period when traffic was high.

So what next? PowerGas had submitted its investigation report to the EMA. EMA has formed a committee of experts from the LTA and MOM to consider PowerGas' report and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The Committee will also review the adequacy of current safety measures, such as advance notification to the public, the extent of public cordon area, and so on.

Although PowerGas had cordoned off the most vulnerable parts of the rehabilitated pipeline, the Committee will be investigating why PowerGas had not cordoned off the entire area where the tests were carried out. The Committee targets its findings to be ready end July.

The pipeline was not connected to the gas distribution system. So it was not combustible as the question suggested. Hence, there was no combustible gas in the pipeline and there was therefore no danger of any gas leakage, or any risk of fire.

In the meantime, PowerGas will stop all high pressure testing until we know what went wrong, and how to prevent recurrences and enhance safety.