Govt agencies take part in Petronas Carigali’s oil spill response exercise

MIRI: Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd (Petronas Carigali) recently organised a three-day Tier 3 oil spill response exercise called ‘Ex-Empurau’ in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DoE) Sarawak.

The exercise was held from June 11 to 13 included a tabletop emergency simulation and an oil spill response exercise, which tested scenarios such as a fire and an explosion at the Baram platform, as well as a search and rescue and oil spill at the Lutong beach in Miri.

A total of 44 government agencies, including the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) participated in the exercise.

The primary objectives of ‘Ex-Empurau’ were to establish and maintain coordination networks between Petronas Carigali and local authorities, aligning with the Malaysia Oil Spill Contingency Plan, Malaysia Oiled Wildlife Response Plan, and Beach Cleanup Action Plan.

Additionally, the exercise aimed to enhance cooperation in managing oil spill emergencies in Sarawak waters.

Senior general manager of Sarawak Asset, Noriani Yati Mohamad, stressed Petronas Carigali’s commitment to safety and health.

“Ensuring the safety and health of our employees, contractors, and the communities where we operate remains our utmost priority, underpinned by our dedication to upholding the highest safety and health standards.

“The exercise is a testament to our continuous efforts to bolster preparedness for any potential emergency, as well environmental preservation. We appreciate the support from all stakeholders in ensuring the success of this exercise,” she said in a statement.

Petronas Carigali  said that prior to ‘Ex-Empurau’, it collaborated with the National Security Council (MKN) on ‘Ex-Jerung Harimau’ in 2022 and ‘Ex-Kidurong 2’ in 2023.