Swift action on oil fire concerns

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 19:54

YOU reported on the safety of the GB Oils Ltd site in Lerwick, Shetland, (News, 28 June).

The report is based on information released under the Freedom of Information Act by Sepa following an inspection in December 2008 to measure the site's compliance (for secondary and tertiary containment) with a policy issued in February 2008 (COMAH Competent Authority Policy on Containment of Bulk Hazardous Liquids at COMAH Establishments, 20 February, 2008). This policy was developed after the Buncefield incident in 2005.

GB Oils Ltd received the official response to the inspection from Sepa on 16 February, 2009 and replied on 12 March, 2009 to clarify our compliance with the above standard and proposed an action plan going forward. This response is in the public domain. GB Oils Ltd works closely with the competent authorities to implement standards and best practices.

GB Oils Ltd acquired the Lerwick site in March 2007 from BP and has already invested significant sums of money on improving the site's infrastructure.

The bund walls have been strengthened and fire-resistant plates fitted to all external joints in August 2008. Bottom loading was installed in 2008 to improve tanker loading safety.

Scotland on Sunday highlighted three areas of concern:

"The fire resistance of the bund floor liner."

GB Oils Ltd recognise that the existing liner is not fire-resistant but to date have not found a suitable alternative for the site which combines fire resistance with the required permeability (leak tightness).

"Bund walls might not be strong enough."

GB Oils Ltd strengthened the bund walls in 2008.

"Bund capacity not large enough."

GB Oils Ltd proposed a solution which meets the requirements of the standard in 2007, and are still discussing with Sepa. Our contention is that the bund is capable of containing 110 per cent of the largest tank or 25 per cent of the combined volume as required by HS (G) 176.

Claire Chalmers, GB Oils, Lerwick