THE WESTERN Australian Government is prosecuting Apache Energy for failing to maintain and repair the Varanus Island gas pipeline.
The Government is alleging Apache Energy violated the petroleum pipelines act by failing to keep the pipeline in good condition and repair.
The Government claims the gas pipeline ruptured at a corroded area, causing the Varanus Island explosion on 3 June 2008.
The National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) investigated the blast and found the company had failed to effectively maintain the pipeline.
Apache dismissed the report as “incomplete” and “premature." The incident left cut Western Australia’s gas supplies by a third.
Earlier in May, Apache Energy successfully blocked an inquiry from seeing documents it provided to the NOPSA investigation. The final report will be finished in June 2009.
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