"Thitiphat" reveals an oil leak point on the Rama 3 pipeline, emphasizing that BPT and BFPL must take responsibility and demands repairs along with a Pigging Test across the full 32 km.
On 17 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Thitiphat Chotidechachainan, Secretary to the Minister of Energy, disclosed updates on investigating the oil leak near Chuea Phloeng Road under the elevated Rama 3 Road bridge. After officials excavated an underground cavity and found oil mixed in the old drainage system, inspections confirmed oil seepage from the oil transportation pipeline at Rama 3. This pipeline is licensed to BAFS Pipeline Transport Co., Ltd. (BPT), while Bangkok Fuel Pipeline and Logistics Co., Ltd. (BFPL), part of Bangchak Group, operates it.
Ms. Thitiphat emphasized that both companies must be fully accountable for all damages and strictly comply with orders from the Department of Energy Business to prevent recurrence.
To address the issue, the Department of Energy Business has set three key measures: 1. Urgently excavate to locate defects for prompt repair and require pipeline owners to submit complete maintenance and repair records for review. 2. After repairs, conduct a Pigging Test along the entire 32 km pipeline to inspect internal conditions and detect risk points; if abnormalities are found during testing, operations must be halted immediately for correction. 3. Develop plans to replace the pipeline and adjust its route at risk points, especially under pillars or potentially hazardous structures, to enhance safety and prevent future accidents.