Brunei’s Danger Material Goes To Europe To Keep Country Clean
By Zan Hosni

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei yesterday set another milestone enhancing its clean and green image when the first cargo of hazardous waste was exported out of the country to Europe.

Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) made this historic waste export, in full compliance with the Basel Convention, an international treaty that regulates the transportation and movement of hazardous waste to European countries.

The cargo known as Tetra Ethyl Lead (TEL) is now safely on its way to the United Kingdom.

According representatives of the BSP who followed the initial journey of the waste material from the Seria Oil Refinery Plant to Muara Port yesterday, the export is the result of Brunei’s response to refraining from the use of lead in cars.

This action too is in accordance with the Basel Convention, of which Brunei is a signatory.

The waste material being shipped to UK was earlier sealed in several containers and transported overland from Seria.

The material according to BSP was surplus lead and sludge from two TEL storage vessels that were demolished at the end of last year at Seria Oil Refinery as apart of BSP’s final phase of a move to support the national and worldwide drive toward a lead-free environment.

The surplus lead compound and sludge are classified as hazardous waste and must be properly recovered, treated and disposed off in a safe and environmentally approved manner.

The main contractor OCTEL Environmental has such disposal capability and facility in the UK, a BSP press release stated.

The recovered residual TEL sludge was stored at the refinery in Seria, pending permission from various ports in Europe where the ship planned to pass through or stop by.

The inclusion of Brunei in the convention as a member will also enable Brunei to transport other classified hazardous waste to the European Community in the future, the press release added

According to BSP representatives yesterday’s activity was the final phase in the move to support the national and worldwide drive towards a lead free environment.

Brunei Government initiated a policy in 1999 to reduce the use of lead as a major Motor Fuel Anti-knock Compound in gasoline and efforts were intensified to substitute leaded as fuel additive.

“Since we are refraining from using lead, it was time for us to move it out of the country, The only way to dispose of the lead compounds is to ship it back to OCTEL Environmental – which has been the main supplier of the material to Brunei since 1983.,’a BSP representative said

BSP transported several containers to Muara Port yesterday, and the cargo is expected to be transported by ship to Southampton in the UK. The load is expected to reach that destination by November 29, 2003. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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