ASIAN SUPPLY BASE OPENS INTEGRATED CHEMICAL WAREHOUSE IN LABUAN

By Jailani Hasan

LABUAN, March 24 (Bernama) -- Labuan-based Sabah government-linked company Asian Supply Base Sdn Bhd (ASB) has opened an Integrated Chemical Warehouse (ICW) here with a full compliance of international safety standards early this month. 

Equipped with security measure systems, perimeter fencing, close circuit television (CCTV) 24-hour surveillance and access control, the ICW is built and completed in accordance to the Uniform Building By-laws 1984, Fire Services Act 1988, OSHA 1994 and Occupancy Certificate (OC) and Fire Certificate.

ASB chief executive officer Japar Estaban said the ICW with a floor space of 1,744.3 square metres that is able to accommodate up to 944 pallets, is a facility that provides consolidation, storage and handling services for its clients' chemicals and other dangerous goods. 

The work scope includes receiving, inspection, putting away, storage, record keeping, picking, sorting, packing and dispatching chemicals to clients' requested locations.

“ASB’s ICW is essential for companies that use chemicals in their operations and this facility helps ensure that chemicals are stored and handled safely and that they are readily available whenever needed. 

“It helps companies to comply with local regulations and international standards for chemical storage and handling, particularly our clients in the supply base,” he told Bernama today.

The Health Safety Security & Environment (HSSE) implementation is also in place in ASB’s ICW, with portable firefighting equipment and a spill kit for containment, emergency shower and eye wash station, first aid facilities, safe work system and practices guidelines/manuals, signages and information boards, guidelines for PPE, safety and health inspection and investigation, and emergency response procedures. 

The ICW has systems in place, including the Warehouse Management System, Internet connections and a barcoding system and hardware. 

Currently, ICW services are being offered to 13 petroleum arrangement contractors (PACs) in the supply base, and a trial/probation period is ongoing with Shell (Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Ltd & Sarawak Shell Bhd) in Labuan, with the transfer of their chemicals to the ASB warehouse scheduled to be completed by end of March 2023. 

ASB is also in engagement with Petronas for this initiative and subsequently the other PACs will follow suit as the engagements and arrangements are currently in progress.

ASB chief operating officer David Agang said the scope of the ICW covers all types of chemical handling activities related to supporting the oil and gas (O&G) industry, including chemical transfers to offshore, chemicals from offshore, and chemical storage for PACs and their suppliers. 

“The facility is designed to store and manage chemicals in a safe and efficient manner, such as having specialised storage areas for different types of chemicals, handling equipment, safety systems and environmental controls. 

“Overall, an ICW is an important component of the chemical industry infrastructure, helping ensures the safe and efficient storage and handling of chemicals,” he said.

David said the setting up of the ICW was in line with ASB's mission to provide high value services and solutions to its customers due to the recovery of the O&G industry. 

“We must thank Petronas’ category management and its operation team for the support throughout the ICW project, and we are grateful to all PACs for their constructive ideas and ongoing support, which have contributed to the project's success. 

“ASB values collaboration and feedback from its partners, and is committed to continue its service improvement and innovation in its operations in the O&G industry,” he said.

ASB is a Labuan-based offshore supply base that aims to participate in and support the O&G exploration, development and production activities off the coast of Sabah and Sarawak, and it is gazetted as one of the national key points by Jawatankuasa Pusat Sasaran Penting. 

-- BERNAMA