Firefighters in Malaysia’s Johor state are currently dealing with a styrene monomer (SM) leakage from an Idemitsu Kosan petrochemical plant in Pasir Gudang, according to a statement by the local fire department.
Discovery of the Leak
At 5:21 p.m. local time, inspectors discovered the leaking SM from the chemical duct valves of the factory. This discovery was accompanied by strong odors, as reported by the fire department.
Ongoing Efforts to Address the Issue
As of 8:30 p.m. local time, firefighters are continuing their efforts to address the situation, as mentioned in the statement.
Eyewitnesses Share Videos and Concerns
A video shared by a trader showed plumes of white liquid billowing from a tank later in the afternoon. The trader specified that the affected tank was part of a polystyrene plant in Pasir Gudang. Additionally, social media posts circulating raised awareness about the odors in the area and advised locals to evacuate if necessary.
Idemitsu’s Response
In a note seen by OPIS, Idemitsu confirmed that an emergency response situation occurred in the late evening. The leak from the SM tank was reported at 5:15 p.m., and the local fire department personnel were present at the site. Idemitsu assured that the situation was under control and expected the odors to be reduced within two to three hours.
Production Capabilities of Idemitsu and Subsidiary Petrochemicals Malaysia
Idemitsu’s SM production capacity is 240,000 metric tons per year. On the other hand, Idemitsu subsidiary Petrochemicals Malaysia, also located in Pasir Gudang, has a production capacity of 110,000 metric tons per year for polystyrene (PS). PS is a polymer made from SM, as stated by Chemical Market Analytics by OPIS, a Dow Jones Company.
About OPIS
Reporting by Chuan Ong; Editing by Jeff Barber
