'Refinery fire a reminder of safety's importance'

ONE of the most public challenges for Lee Tzu Yang in leading Shell Singapore was undoubtedly the fire at its refinery at Pulau Bukom in September 2011.

Mr Lee says: "I hope that's not what they remember because I think Shell has done a lot in Singapore . . . That's certainly not an aspect which should be our distinguishing point."

The fire - one of the worst industrial fires in Singapore's history - burned for 32 hours before it was finally put out and caused Shell to declare force majeure on its contracts as it shut down the refinery for a few months.