Oil Leak Found Under Rama III Bridge; Companies Ordered to Fix
An oil leak discovered beneath Bangkok's Rama III bridge has been traced to a pipeline operated by BFPS Pipeline Transport and Bangchak subsidiary BFPL, both ordered to repair the damage and conduct safety inspections of the entire 32-kilom
On September 17, Titipat Chotidetchaichainan, secretary to the Minister of Energy, disclosed progress in investigating an oil leak discovered beneath the Rama III elevated road bridge along Fuel Street. Officials had been intensively searching for the source of contamination in drainage systems and surrounding areas. During excavation surveys, workers found underground cavities and oil-contaminated water in old drainage lines, prompting an expanded investigation that eventually traced the leak to an oil pipeline in the Rama III area.
The pipeline is operated by BFPS Pipeline Transport Company (BPT), the licensed holder, and Bangkok Fuel Pipeline and Logistics Company (BFPL), a subsidiary of Bangchak Corporation. Both companies have been held fully responsible for damages and must comply with the Energy Business Department's orders to systematically address the problem and prevent recurrence.
The Energy Business Department has mandated three key remedial steps: First, operators must urgently locate and repair the damaged section and provide complete maintenance and repair records for department inspection to determine root causes and assess system risk. Second, a pigging test must be conducted along the entire 32-kilometer pipeline to survey internal conditions and identify areas at risk of leakage or other anomalies, with immediate halts for inspection and repairs if problems are found. Third, operators must plan to replace the damaged pipe and realign sections in high-risk areas, particularly where the pipeline runs beneath structures, to enhance safety and prevent future incidents.
