SEREMBAN: Emergency measures to prevent an explosion at a refinery in Port Dickson caused smoke to be released into the atmosphere, says Negri Sembilan health and environment committee chairman S. Veerapan.

       He said the smoke, which was generated by gas burning, was a result of emergency measures taken at its crude oil distillation unit after its main combustion furnace suffered a loss of processing fluid at around 6.15pm on Feb 19.

       "The emergency system was automatically activated to shut down the furnace.

       "The high-pressure gas was released into the flare where it was burned before being released into the air.

       "This was why there was intermittent black smoke within 20 to 30 minutes after the plant shut down," he said.

       Veerapan said a company representative also reported the incident to the state Environment Department (DOE) around 7.30pm the same day.

       He said a team from the DOE visited the refinery on Feb 21 and found that it was operating as usual.

       "An internal investigation is being conducted to determine what caused the loss of processing fluid from the crude oil distillation unit.

       "Instructions were also issued to the owners to take effective control measures to control air pollution as well as prepare a report," he said.

       Veerapan said the facility was built in 1963 and was sold to its current owners in 2012.

       Among others, it also produces various types of vehicle fuels, jet fuel, fuel oil, kerosene, asphalt and ammonia.

       The premises has five furnaces, a boiler and one flare unit that uses clean fuel gas and the Predictive Emission Monitoring System (PEMS) to monitor air from the furnace.