Safety Procedures Reviewed in Wake of Grey Street Gas Leak - Media Statement
[ Last Updated 10 March 2006 ]
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs' Energy Safety Service is reviewing the emergency preparedness of gas network operators nationwideand the training of their call-out staff, following a major gas leak on Wellington’s Grey Street last month.
The leak occurred when a burst water pipe damaged a gas pipe early on 11 May, leaking high-pressure gas into the atmosphere and creating the risk of fire or explosion. The gas pipe was owned and operated by Nova Gas Limited.
Although the Wellington City Council was first told of the gas leakgas leak was first detected at 2 am, it tlook several over five hours for the owner of the gas pipecorrect supplier to be identified. This was because there were two suppliers operating in Grey Street – United Networks Ltd and Nova Gas Ltd. The gas was eventually shut off just after 8 am, and the "all-clear" given by the Fire Service around 11.30am.
Following the incident, the Energy Safety Service investigated and reported its findings to the Associate Minister of Energy, Hon Paul Swain. The Service then has forwarded its preliminary recommendations to all gas companies in New Zealand for their urgent immediate consideration.
The recommendations included:
- The Fire Service calling out all gas suppliers operating in the affected area.
- Putting isolation valves at strategic points along all gas pipes.
- Improving the training of gas network operators’ call-out staff.
- Each company having a fully workable emergency response plan, including mutual assistance and regular exercise.
- Keeping all gas reticulation plans up-to-date, with gas companies advising competitors of their reticulation plans.
The Energy Safety Service is due to report to the Associate Minister of Energy at the end of this month on progress against its preliminary recommendations at the end of this month. The Minister will also be meeting gas company representatives in Wellington on 29 June.
"This leak was the second of its type in the Wellington district (the first being in 1992 in Elsdon) and the potential for such emergencies exists elsewhere," said the Ministry's Standards and Safety Manager, Tony Leverton. "The consequences of gas ignition in such circumstances would be extremely serious."
"It is important for all gas suppliers and emergency services to learn from the way this leak was managed, so that any future incidents are responded to and resolved in the shortest possible time, thereby reducing the risk to emergency staff and the public."
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