Fuel pipeline fix by next week
AUCKLAND: The broken Marsden Point fuel pipeline could be operational again by early next week.
Good progress was being made repairing the ruptured line, pipeline owner New Zealand Refining said yesterday.
Damage to the 170km line — reportedly caused by a digger lifting swamp kauri on a farm near Whangarei about three months ago — was discovered last Thursday.
The company was on schedule with its plan to return the damaged pipeline to service sometime between Sunday and next Tuesday, a spokesman said.
This would mean jet fuel being delivered into the Wiri depot, before being piped to Auckland International Airport.
‘‘From that point we estimate it will take another 30 hours for the jet fuel to settle, for recertification to be obtained and to
transport [the fuel] to the airport for final use.’’
In other developments yesterday, government agencies moved in to help and the plans of thousands of air travellers con
tinued to be disrupted.
More flights are expected to be affected in the coming days, particularly on transtasman and domestic legs.
Energy and Resources Minis ter Judith Collins and top officials from government agencies met Defence Force staff and other associated parties, including airline representatives and those from fuel companies.
The talks also involved NZ Refining, which owns the Marsden Point pipeline. Thursday’s rupture left Auckland Airport with only 30% of its normal fuel usage available.
Ms Collins said the latest information was that aviation fuel supplies in Auckland remained of ‘‘most concern’’, but that worry would not flow on to motorists’ fuel supply.
‘‘It’s been made very clear to all of those working on this that the Government will commit whatever resources and effort are required to get this sorted out as quickly as possible with a minimum disruption.
‘‘The nature of the damage means repair isn’t quick and the work has to be done very carefully.
‘‘But if any additional personnel or expertise from the Defence Force can speed the work up in any way, then they’ll be made available.’’
The Defence Force has been tasked with using the naval tanker HMNZS Endeavour to move diesel fuel from Marsden Point to other parts of the country.
To do that it had to cancel a major exercise in Singapore to save fuel and was providing up to 20 additional tanker drivers to help local operators.
Passengers travelling in and out of Auckland over the next few days are being urged to contact their airline or stay updated via the airport’s website for updates. — NZME