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Government working to secure alternative gas supplies: Moore

Posted Fri May 29, 2009 3:00pm

The West Australian Government says it is working hard to establish alternative energy supplies in the wake of the Varanus Island gas explosion.

The Government has announced it was taking legal action against Apache North West and its co-licencees for failing to adequately maintain its gas pipeline following an explosion at the company's Varanus Island gas processing plant in June 2008.

It will be alleged that a section the pipeline had corroded, contributing to the explosion.

The Minister for Mining, Norman Moore, says the Government remains committed to securing alternative energy supplies.

"The Minister for Energy Peter Collier has a working party working very hard on that issue," he said.

"We brought together all of the different players in the industry and people who've got a particular interest in making sure that we have alternative energy supplies."


Alternative supplies

Wesfarmers says it is vital the State Government secures alternative gas supplies.

Wesfarmers Chief Executive, Richard Goyder, says the supply cut had a significant impact on the business.

"This has cost us as Wesfarmers tens of millions of dollars, and the state many times that I'm sure," he said.

"So putting in a plan and a strategy around alternative gas supplies for an event like this in future I think is critically important and I trust the Government's working on that."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/29/2584661.htm

JB