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SUNGAI PERAI INCIDENT: KEY FINDINGS FROM PBAPP’S PRELIMINARY POST-MORTEM REPORT

1. 8.00am, 18.12.2023 A large 1,350mm (1.35m) underwater pipeline burst in Sungai Perai. This mishap required an emergency response because it caused a drop in water pumping pressure that affected 200,000 water consumers in Penang.
2. 8.01am, 18.12.2023 –

10.00pm,

19.12.2023

 In the first 38 hours, PBAPP continued to supply as much water as possible to as many affected consumers as possible, despite huge water losses.
3. 10.01pm,

19.12.2023 –

5.30am,

22.12.2023

 It took 55.5 hours to plug the leak with a clamped steel plate due to the following 3 key challenges:

  • Pipeline repair works could only be carried out by a team of qualified commercial divers, 3.5m underwater.
  • Dive operations to weld a plate over a hole on the pipeline was hampered by faulty electrical equipment and rough river conditions.
  • The welded plate was dislodged by water pressure after PBAPP tried to resume normal pumping works through the pipeline at 12.30pm on 21.12.2023.
4. 5.31am, 22.12.2023 –

5.00am, 25.12.2023

It took 71.5 hours to recover water supply services for 99% of the 200,000 affected water consumers.
5. 5.01am, 25.12.2023 –

11.00pm,

26.12.2023

 Finally, it took another 18 hours to recover water supply for remaining 1% of consumers at the end-of-line (EoL) and high ground neighbourhoods, due mainly to neighbourhood issues.

PENANG, Saturday, 30 December 2023: Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) has submitted a preliminary post-mortem report to the Penang State Government on the Sungai Perai Underwater Burst Pipeline Incident.

The following are the key findings from the report:

  • A mild steel pipeline with a diameter of 1,350mm burst in Sungai Perai at about 8.00am on 18.12.2023.
  • The cause of the mishap is not known and difficult to ascertain because the pipeline is located underwater, 3.5m below the surface of Sungai Perai.
  • This 1,350mm pipeline was laid in 1996 by Pihak Berkuasa Air (PBA) before PBAPP was corporatised in 1999. Previously, there was no report of a burst underwater pipeline in Penang.
  • The pipeline is part of Penang’s key water pipeline infrastructure which channels treated water from the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) to Penang Island, primarily to the South-West District.
  • The burst pipeline had to be repaired immediately because it caused a leak that led to a sharp drop in water pumping pressure to 200,000 water consumers in Penang. This mishap had already compromised water supply services to the South-West District of Penang Island (DBD) and some areas in Seberang Perai.
  • In the first 38 hours after the pipeline burst, PBAPP continued to supply as much water as possible to as many affected consumers as possible, despite huge water losses. PBAPP wanted to minimise the impact of the mishap until the arrival of an outstation team of qualified commercial divers to carry out dangerous repair works. There was a 3-hour pipeline shutdown to enable preliminary damage assessment dives.
  • It took a total of 55.5 hours to plug the leak with a clamped steel plate. Within this timeframe, work by the commercial divers to weld a steel plate over a hole in the pipeline were hampered by equipment failure and rough river conditions. Unfortunately, the welded plate could not withstand the pressure when PBAPP resumed pumping water through the pipeline. Finally, “Plan B” to clamp a more robust steel plate over the hole worked from 5.30am on 22.12.2023.
  • After the pipeline was repaired, it took 71.5 hours to recover water supply services for 99% of the 200,000 affected water consumers at 5.00am on 25.12.2023.
  • Finally, it took another 18 hours to recover water supply for remaining 1% of consumers at the end-of-line (EoL) and high ground neighbourhoods, mainly due to neighbourhood issues. 100% recovery was logged at 11.00pm on 26.12.2023.

Accordingly, the Penang State Government has directed PBAPP to do the following:

  • Monitor the condition of the repaired Sungai Perai underwater pipeline daily until a permanent solution can be implemented. In this case, the permanent solution is the laying of a “river-crossing pipeline” that will be supported by a structure above the river surface. Implementation of this permanent solution, at an estimated cost of RM5 million, should be expedited for completion as soon as possible in 2024 to enable regular inspections and prevent a recurrence.
  • Detect and report the locations of other such underwater pipelines in the state. PBAPP should commission specialised underwater inspections of all such other pipelines to ascertain if there is any danger or risk of a similar mishap.
  • Commission a team of specialists to regularly inspect all major pipelines (900mm and above) that are above ground. Explore methods to detect potential defects or failures of all major buried pipelines (900mm and above).
  • Expedite the replacement of “out-dated” major pipelines (900mm and above).
  • Ensure that the recovery of water supply services for 590,000 water consumers affected by the scheduled water supply interruption from 10.1.2024 follows the schedule that was previously announced on 13.12.2023:
    • Stage Hours Recovery for consumers Locations
    1 48

    (6.00am,

    12.1.2024)

    		197,025

    (33%)

    Most areas in Seberang Perai, including Butterworth and the Perai Industrial Parks.

    2

    72

    (6.00am,

    13.1.2024)

    		495,065

    (84%)

    Most areas in Seberang Perai and Penang Island, including George Town and the Bayan Lepas FTZ.

    3 96

    (6.00am, 14.1.2024)

    		589,000

    (99.8%)

    		Almost all areas in Seberang Perai and Penang Island.

    Water supply for the remaining 0.2% of affected consumers (about 1,000 consumers), who live in the end-of-line (EoL) and high ground neighbourhoods with specific issues, must also be recovered as soon as possible after the 96-hour mark.

    Notwithstanding the findings of the post-mortem report regarding the December 2023 Sungai Perai Incident, the people and the State Government of Penang expects PBAPP to do more and do better in January 2024.

    • CHOW KON YEOW
    • Chief Minister of Penang.
    • Media Release by CHOW KON YEOW on 30 December 2023