OIL giant ExxonMobil faces court proceedings for allegedly failing to let Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers in to put out a fire at one of its refineries.
In a highly unusual case, the company was on Tuesday issued three summonses in a district court for violating fire regulations.
SCDF is believed to have been alerted by a telephone call from a person who noticed the fire in the Pioneer Road refinery on Jan 6.
ExxonMobil is accused of not allowing the officers to enter to put it out at about 2am. It is also said to have failed to let them in around two hours later to investigate and determine its cause.
The third summons is for allegedly failing to make sure that the refinery's fire safety manager notified the SCDF immediately about the fire.
The proceedings on Tuesday were conducted in chambers and the case was adjourned until Dec 28.
-- ST
SCDF withdraws charges against ExxonMobil
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has withdrawn charges against ExxonMobil.
SCDF alleged previously that the oil giant had failed to let firemen put out a fire at one of its refineries.
SCDF did not elaborate on its latest decision during a brief court hearing on Tuesday.
When queried later by Channel NewsAsia, an SCDF spokesman said: "The management of ExxonMobil has appealed and also taken prompt corrective actions...in view of this, SCDF decided to issue a stern warning in lieu of proceeding with charges against the company."
The fire in question
at the Pioneer Road refinery occurred on January 6, and SCDF officers
were also not allowed in some two hours later to investigate and
determine its cause.
A third summons was for allegedly failing to notify SCDF immediately about the fire.
ExxonMobil
apologised on Monday for the company's "part in the circumstances
leading to the charges". "We've since reviewed our internal processes to
ensure that such an incident won't occur again," its spokesperson told
Channel NewsAsia. "We're also working with SCDF to ensure a closer
alignment in our operational processes with all the ground personnel."
ExxonMobil gave assurances about the safety of its workers and the community.
"The
Singapore refinery, as with other ExxonMobil sites, has an emergency
response plan, and the employees prepare themselves through regular
training and drills," said its spokesperson.
She said the company
was equipped with a range of fire fighting equipment, which are subject
to SCDF audits, and response teams were staffed with personnel trained
at the SCDF Academy.
Under the Fire Safety Act, authorised
personnel have the right to enter any premises to check for fire hazards
and to determine the causes of a fire, among other duties.
Breaching the law carries a maximum fine of S$10,000, up to six months in jail, or both.
-CNA/ac