Fire breaks out at Queensland Gas Pipeline

Jemena’s Queensland Gas Pipeline (QGP) has caught fire near Bauhinia Downs, Queensland.

6 March update

Jemena crews have successfully completed make-safe activities on a portion of the QGP.

As a next step, Jemena said that it is now developing its restoration plan and working with stakeholders involved in supplying gas to the QGP. This work involves mobilising additional crew to the region and securing equipment and materials required to conduct the repair. Once the restoration plan has been completed, Jemena will share its anticipated restoration time frame.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued directions under the East Coast Gas Supply function to divert gas resources and supply to communities in the Gladstone and Rockhampton areas. AEMO has also directed large industrial users to either reduce or cease gas usage.

There are currently no impacts to residential customer supply.

The blaze broke out at approximately 7:30am on 5 March 2024, with emergency services attending the site near the Dawson Highway, south-west of Rockhampton.

Jemena said it is aware of the incident, which is impacting the QGP between Rolleston Compressor Station and Oombabeer. The QGP supplies gas to Gladstone, predominantly for industrial use. 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have control of the impacted site and have declared an exclusion zone. The pipeline will also be shut down upstream of where the incident occurred. However, Jemena said that because it was a remote location, the exclusion zone would not affect the public.

Queensland Minister for Resources, Scott Stewart, said there may be impacts to gas transmission and that the Department of Resources and the Department of Energy and Climate would work with operators during the interruptions.

The QGP is 627km long and connects the Wallumbilla gas hub near Roma to large industrial customers in central Queensland. It has the capacity to move 145TJ of gas per day.

Jemena said it is currently working to understand the impact of the incident on its customers and other stakeholders and apologised for any inconvenience to those who may be impacted by the incident. 

Jemena said its current focus is on ensuring the safety of the site, community and personnel, and will move to develop a restoration plan once safety is assured.

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