Energy minister orders safety review of oil, gas pipelines

Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow has instructed officials to conduct a safety review of the nationwide oil and gas pipeline network, following growing concerns by state officials and civic groups over a recurrence of the deadly gas pipe explosion last Friday.

Mr Supattanapong stressed yesterday a similar accident should not occur again because of the fatalities and fear it caused in many communities that live near the pipelines.

The incident, which happened on Oct 23 in Samut Prakan’s Bang Bo district, killed three people and injured more than 50 others.

It alarmed villagers living near gas distribution pipelines in the province, located on the rim of the Gulf of Thailand.

Earlier this week, a Kanchanaburi-based environment group prompted PTT Plc to step up its probe into the accident and raised concerns over a section of the ageing gas pipeline in the…