Shell to start free oil disposal tomorrow

PHUKET: The Shell Company of Thailand (Shell) today announced that it will begin its free marine engine oil collection and disposal service in Phuket tomorrow. The service is part of Shell’s “Rao Rak Talay Thai” conservation campaign, which was launched in Pattani. The name is a play on words, meaning both “We Love the Thai Sea” and “We Conserve the Thai Sea”. Tiraphot Vajrabhaya, chairman of Shell in Thailand, explained, “In Thailand, 400 million liters of engine oil are bought each year. Once it has been used, there is about 280 million liters of unusable oil left. This includes 10 million liters of unusable engine oil from boats. “When engine oil is used, only one-third is burned off. The rest is usually thrown away and ends up in the sea. Engine oil contains heavy metals and other toxic substances which pollute and immediately destroy the ocean’s beauty,” he said. Shell Co, which has allocated 2.62 million baht to the project, will provide two tanker trucks and a pick-up truck, each fitted with pumps to collect oil from any boats that call them, and which anchor or moor no further than 30 meters from a wharf. The trucks will deliver the oil to a 15,000-liter tank, which will be run and maintained by General Environmental Conservation Co. It will remain in the tank until it is shipped to Rayong to be used in making cement. Those wishing to make use of the free service should call 01-5364830 or 01-5364831.