PTT vows Samet clean-up

In its first press conference since the oil spill on Saturday, PTT Group of Companies officially apologised and promised to complete the clean-up within two weeks in light of growing public opinion against the national oil and gas empire.

Pailin Chuchottaworn, chief executive of PTT Group, yesterday expressed his deep regrets for the crude-oil leak caused by a subsidiary, PTT Global Chemical, and promised the group would take full responsibility for the damage done. “I am truly sorry and apologise for PTTGC’s crude-oil leak. I affirm here that the situation will be tackled in a serious manner,” he said at the press conference.

Until normalcy returns – probably in two weeks – from today, a real-time webcast will be available at http://iptv.pttplc.com, while other updates can be found at www.pttgroup.com.

The leak took place on July 27, creating an oil slick that washed ashore in a bay of Koh Samet, a major tourist destination in Rayong province. The disaster, though not the most severe in Thailand in terms of volume, has hit a number of business operators on the island and is believed to have already damaged the island’s revenue. 

Social-media reactions were negative against the company, ranging from reluctance to download new LINE stickers of PTT to criticisms over the group’s huge profits. Some winners of PTT’s Green Globe Awards also threatened to return them.

As business operators on the island yesterday urged negotiations with PTT for compensation, the group expressed full commitment to such payments as well as to the clean-up and the rehabilitation process, until the affected area returns to its normal condition. 

Pailin pleaded for public understanding, saying the oil spill was purely accidental and would be a lesson for the group in stepping up safety measures. He also expressed gratitude to all parties that have supported the cleanup process, in line with the group’s Safety, Security, Health and Environment (SSHE) management system. PTT Group said that as a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2012/2013, it was committed to sustainable development, with concerns in economic, social and environmental aspects under best practices.

In the past five days, at least 50 tonnes of dispersant have been used, but Pailin insisted that this would have no lasting impact on the environment. Meanwhile, he acknowledged that it remained difficult to estimate damage from this incident.

Federation of Thai Industries Chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said the disaster called for precautionary measures at PTTGC. There should be job-safety analysis to prevent recurrences and more contingency plans are necessary for offshore oil transport. 

Despite the disaster, he expected no negative impact on the petrochemical industry as a whole, given that each new investment is required to complete Environmental Impact Assessments. Advanced technology can help contain impacts, he said.  “Accidents can happen, but operators need tools and plans to cope with the situation.”

According to PTTGC president Bowon Vongsinudom, about 70-80 people on Koh Samet fell ill, mostly officials of his company. About 1,000 volunteers have undergone urine tests for physical problems, mostly from the oil fumes.

To restore public confidence, the Energy Ministry on Wednesday announced the establishment of a committee to probe the oil leak. Chaired by Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat, a petroleum expert, industry insiders said they believed the committee would come up with acceptable facts. Other members are Pol General Ek Angsananon, deputy police chief and secretary of the Police Commission, and Kwanruedee Chotichanathaweewong, director of the Thai Environment Institute. They will be joined by other experts.

Energy expert Manoon Siriwan said the committee was neutral. He is convinced that Thongtip, as a veteran academic, can come up with fair judgement despite her closeness to PTT Group in the past. 

Thongtip, now 70, was an adviser to PTT in 2005, after retiring as director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand. Before that, she was a secretary to Her Majesty the Queen, after returning from New Zealand with a master’s degree in chemical engineering. 

Kurujit Nakornthap, deputy permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry, confirmed Thongtip’s neutrality, saying that while working for PTT she often criticised the group. 

 

 

PTT Group’s commitments

_ To provide full support and cooperation to PTTGC in handling onshore and offshore oil slick as well as rehabilitation.

_ To support PTTGC in complying with security, health and environmental standards.

_ To reveal all facts and welcome inspection.

_ To welcome opinions from all parties for the maximum efficiency and effectiveness of rehabilitation.

_ To take full responsibility for the damage and offer best care to those affected.