AceBreakingNews – Health and safety officials are investigating a “significant” pipeline fire in central Queensland that has impacted a major industrial city’s gas supply.

Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: Mar.05: 2024: ABC Capricornia News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News Link https://t.me/+PuI36tlDsM7GpOJe

Emergency services responded to a large blaze at about 7:30am off the Dawson Highway near Bauhinia Downs, south-west of Rockhampton.

Greta Coyne said she heard a roaring sound while she was at work at Bauhinia Roadhouse.

“It was like one of the big old jets went over, but it just kept going,” she said.

“The fire was going right to the sky.”

Jemena, which manages gas and electricity assets across Australia, confirmed there was a “significant” incident involving the Queensland Gas Pipeline, which supplies gas to Gladstone, predominantly for industrial use.

A spokesperson for the company said there would also be some minor residential impacts.

Jemena said an exclusion zone had been established, but the public would not be affected because it was a remote location.

The pipeline is 627 kilometres long.(Supplied: Jemena)

The pipeline will also be shut down upstream of where the incident occurred.

Police said no-one was injured.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service crews remained on scene as the fire continued to blaze into the afternoon.

Jemena said the incident was impacting the pipeline between its Rolleston compressor station and Oombabeer.

The company said it was working to understand the impact of the incident on its customers and other stakeholders and apologised for the inconvenience.

“Our current focus is on ensuring the safety of the site, community and personnel,” it said.

“We will then move to develop our restoration plan.”

The pipeline is connected to several major industrial customers, including Rio Tinto, which operates the Yarwun Alumina Refinery and Boyne Smelters, Australia’s second largest aluminium smelter.

Resources Minister 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.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has launched an investigation and an inspector is assessing the site.

RSHQ confirmed the section of the pipeline has been isolated says the situation is under control.

The pipeline is 627 kilometres long and connects the Wallumbilla gas hub near Roma to large industrial customers in central Queensland.

It has the capacity to move 145 terajoules of gas per day.

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