APACHE Energy had to evacuate staff from Varanus Island via helicopter after an explosion occurred at the gas facility at 1:40pm on 3 June 2008.
According to the company, there were no injuries, and all personnel had been accounted for. It is now working to stabilise the situation and manage environmental concerns.
160 workers were taken by helicopter to Barrow Island, while a few were left to maintain the facility.
The explosion and subsequent fire are said to have cut West Australia’s gas supplies by 30%, prompting
Alinta to appeal for customers to cut back their use of gas.
Despite the lack of casualties, the
Australian Workers Union (AWU) says it will conduct a full inquiry and plant inspection, reminding its members of the fatal 1998 Longford gas explosion.
