GEORGE TOWN, May 18 - A massive operation is under way to clean up the40 tonnes of fatty alcohol that leaked from a palm oil factory into thesea off the Butterworth deepwater wharf yesterday.Nearly 100 Palmco Oil Mill Sdn Bhd employees, state Department ofEnvironment staff and fishermen have been working since late yesterdaymorning to remove the ice-like substance.

The spill occurred at 2am yesterday after one of 15 transfer pipes at thePalmco Oil Mill Sdn Bhd oil storage centre inside the Penang Port Sdn Bhdgrounds leaked.

Palmco general affairs manager Zulhany Kamaruzzaman said the company wouldthoroughly clean up the "mess" as soon as possible.

Thousands heading to work at the Bayan Lepas Industrial Area yesterdaystopped to look at the "ice" on the beach.

MAJOR TASK: A member of the clean-up team picking up the fatty alcoholalong one of the affected beaches.

Checks by the New Straits Times this afternoon showed that the affectedstretches had been cleared of the substance.

Zulhany said the company had managed to recover over 20 tonnes of thefatty alcohol.

He said the fatty alcohol was not hazardous.