Jet fuel pipeline fixed; charges still possible
An end-date has been set for the jet fuel pipeline leak remediation works near Ruakaka in Northland.
The pipeline has been fixed, but contaminated soil needs to be removed from the drain servicing the surrounding area.
Once that’s complete, it will mark the end of the physical works for the four-month jet fuel leak saga – but authorities are still undecided if they have enough evidence to prosecute those responsible.
About 11 concrete trucks-worth or 124 cubic metres of jet fuel soaked into a farm off Marsden Point Rd, Ruakaka, before the leak was discovered in mid-September 2017.
Residents at the time reported smelling a foul odour coming from the rural property; ‘‘like a mixture of petrol, diesel, and kerosene’’.
The 170-kilometre pipeline, which connects the refinery at Marsden Point to Auckland, was shut down for 10 days following the leak.
As well as putting pressure on fuel supplies for motorists, the outage forced a number of flights in and out of Auckland to be cancelled or to make additional stops.
Investigations concluded the damage was caused by a digger, anywhere up to three years prior to the leak being found.
The pipe’s authority, Refining NZ, sent out a letter to nearby residents in late December.
‘‘I am pleased to inform you that the remediation at the pipeline leak are has now been completed,’’ wrote spokesman Greg McNeill.
‘‘[However] There is still work to be completed on the remediation of the farm drain adjacent to the leak site.’’
McNeill said remediating the farm drain would involve identifying and excavating any areas of contaminated soil from the sides of the drain.
The works were expected to take about six weeks to complete.
‘‘This is the last piece of remediation work to be carried out and follows the successful completion of remediation around the pipe repair site before Christmas.’’
And while the last of the physical works around the pipe leak were in sight, the Northern Regional Council said any civil or criminal proceedings it may take were still undecided.
‘‘We have almost completed our investigation of the matter,’’ said Colin Dall, the council’s manager of regulatory services.
‘‘And we’re waiting the outcome of the review from our lawyer as to whether we have sufficient evidence to take formal action against any persons who may be responsible for the pipeline rupture.’’
Refining NZ estimated the incident would cost the company up to $15 million in lost revenue.