Attitude change worth more than hefty fines

EDITORIAL

Attitude change worth more than hefty fines

Published: 2 Sep 2012 at 02.01
Newspaper section: News

Last week, an Australian court ordered Thai energy giant PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) to pay fines totalling A$510,000 (16.5 million baht) for damages from the 2009 Montara oil spill off the coast of northwest Australia in the Timor Sea. Indonesia is still seeking US$2.4 billion (75.3 billion baht) in compensation for damage to reefs and fisheries. Reportedly none of the oil washed up on Australian shores.

An Australian government inquiry found that PTTEP was culpable for widespread and systematic shortcomings leading to the spill. PTTEP pleaded guilty to breaching the Offshore Petroleum Act, and admitted it failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the spill and placed rig workers in danger. Fortunately all 69 workers were safely evacuated after the blowout from the Montara wellhead platform on Aug 21, 2009.

Considering that at least 20,000 barrels of oil leaked over a period of 10 weeks the fine seems rather light, but this was largely because PTTEP took immediate responsibility and the court determined that it also took appropriate actions to mitigate damages, working closely with the Australian government. Magistrate John Lowndes determined that PTTEP had shown contrition and remorse over the Montara incident, and had ``met head-on its culpability''.

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john49
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Discussion 5 : 03 Sep 2012 at 11.155
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robins d4-For starters, Australia is only fining PTTEP 16.5 Million baht. It is Indonesia who is seeking 75.3 Billion baht. The Australian amount seems to include the cost of the cleanup which I think is reasonable. According to the story the company has pleaded guilty to breaching the Act.

Where is the greed on the part of the Australian Government which you claim? I cannot see it.
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robins
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Discussion 4 : 02 Sep 2012 at 19.294
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For Australia to be seeking 75 Billion Baht out of a Thai company really should cause an angry editorial in the Thai media about government shake downs and hidden taxes, after all this was an accident. Government inspectors usually find deficiencies in everyone's conduct and procedures except their own, and in the West the best and brightest do not work in government. Oil drilling is inherently dangerous, but it's also necessary if you want cars and electricity without nuclear power. Australia's opportunistic greed should be called out and condemned for exactly what it is.
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john49
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Discussion 3 : 02 Sep 2012 at 17.503
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Maybe PTTEP are learning that in other countries, you have to be a responsible corporate citizen and that it is better to abide by the law rather than try to get around it.

Back in Thailand though, I suppose it's business as usual.
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steveyinasia
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Discussion 2 : 02 Sep 2012 at 17.462
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The answer is very simple, unlike Australia Law, Thailand does not seek to bring any wrong doers to justice.
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waters
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Discussion 1 : 02 Sep 2012 at 12.361
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"We plan to be a trusted, open and respected operator in the Australian oil and gas industry now and in the future.''

Well that's just great - for Australia! So why does PTTEP discharge more than 20,000 bbls of oil based drilling fluids yearly into our own Gulf of Thailand on their leased drilling rigs? The well bore cuttings are literally saturated with oil based drilling mud and not collected, but instead dumped directly into the sea. These fluids, unlike crude oil, are weighted up and sink to the sea bed which is harmful for marine life.

Don't trust PTTEP!
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Attitude change worth more than hefty fines | Bangkok Post: opinion