Lok Sabha Question No. 1526 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Diesel Leakage at HPCL Depot, Elathur, Kerala
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri M K Raghavan

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION Dy. NO.1526

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH FEBRUARY, 2025

## Diesel leakage at HPCL Depot, Elathur, Kerala

## 1526. Shri M K Raghavan:

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  the  recent  diesel  leakage  at  HPCL  Depot  in Elathur, Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the causes of the leakage assessed environmental impact and the estimated loss of revenue due to the incident;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to implement measures to prevent environmental damage and contamination of nearby water bodies or soil due to such incidents across the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  any  investigation  or  inquiry  have  been  conducted  by  the  Petroleum  and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) into this incident; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢालय मᱶ रा᭔य मंᮢी ( ᮰ी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a) and (b)  A  minor  overflow  of  High  Speed  Diesel  (HSD)  from  an  underground  tank  during testing of level alarm on 04.12.2024 due to malfunctioning of servo gauge connected to  safety  inter-lock  system  for  overfill  protection  was  observed  at  HPCL  Depot  in Elathur, Kerala.Upon being noticed, the tank valve was closedimmediately. However, by this time, a limited quantity of product had seeped to the drain outside the depot. All necessary actions were thereafter taken for the off-site emergency. Vigorous steps were taken to control the overflow and recover the product spilled into the drain using nonsparking and flame-proof equipment. Additionally, oil spill dispersant was deployed in the area adjacent to the depot to ensure no oil traces remained in nearby water sources. To  minimize  environmental  impact,  water-based  bio-degradable  oil  spill  dispersant approved by National Institute of Oceanography, Goa was used until the oil film was completely dispersed into biodegradable sludge. The surrounding area was continuously  inspected  after  the  dispersant  was  deployed  and  stopped  only  after
- confirming  that  no  oil  traces  remained.  HPCL's  Elathur  Depot  has  completely recovered all the product traces from nearby areas.
- (c) and (d)  Oil Terminals and Depots are built as per Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD)Standards and operate under permissions from Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB) and Oil Spill Response mandated by respective port authorities including over spill protection systems to prevent such incidents.
- (e) and (f) As  per  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB),  the  incident  at HPCL's  Elathur  Depot  was  classified  as  a  minor  incident  in  accordance  with  the Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board  (Code  of  Practices  for  Emergency Response and Disaster Management Plan (ERDMP)) Regulation 2010. Therefore, in accordance with the said regulation, no investigation was conducted by PNGRB.

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