AC Energy probes Iloilo City power barge blast

AYALA-LED AC Energy, Inc. (AC Energy) said an investigation is now being conducted seeking the cause of the explosion of its power barge in Iloilo City that caused an oil spill last Friday.

“As of this time, we are conducting an investigation of the incident and a reputable third-party firm will be engaged to conduct a thorough investigation as to the root cause of the explosion that ignited the fuel gases inside the sealed tank, in order to avoid similar situations from happening in the future,” the Ayala energy firm said in a statement over the weekend.

About 251,000 liters of bunker fuel from AC Energy’s Power Barge 102 unit were spilled on Iloilo Strait, covering an area of 1,200 square meters in Barrio Obrero, Lapuz district, according to the city’s disaster risk reduction and management office in a Facebook update on Saturday.

AC Energy said containment procedures were undertaken using spill booms from its barge, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Petron Corp. Skimming operations were also done.

Around 105 affected families were temporarily relocated to a nearby elementary school, as of Saturday.

“We are committed to exerting all means to clean up the oil spill as soon as possible and support the affected communities,” the energy company said. — Adam J. Ang