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Equinor launches probe into “dramatic”

Hammerfest LNG fire

NORWAY NORWAY’S Equinor has opened an internal The probes by Equinor and the PSA “will be
probe into the “dramatic” fire that broke out on important in identifying measures that will pre-
Safety authorities September 28 at its Hammerfest LNG facility on vent similar incidents from happening again,”
and the police are Melkoye Island. Rummelhoff said. “We will support the investi-
also investigating the No personnel were injured in the afternoon gation and the police investigation where there
incident. incident, and the fire was extinguished by emer- is a need for it.”
gency services later that night. But Norway’s Hammerfest LNG, which liquefies up to
Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) has said it is 5.6mn tonnes per year (tpy) of gas from the off-
intending to investigate the “extremely serious” shore Snovhit field, was shut down after the fire
and “frightening fire.” broke out.
“The incident at Hammerfest LNG this week “We are now working to map the extent of
was serious ... We are glad that no one was injured damage after the fire and will then thoroughly
in the fire or in fighting it,” Equnor’s vice-presi- review the technical integrity of the facility,”
dent of marketing, midstream and processing, Rummelhoff continued. “Safety comes first,
Irene Rummelhoff, said on October 2. “The fire and we will use the time we need to ensure a safe
was dramatic, especially for employees, suppliers start-up.”
and neighbours in Hammerfest.” The PSA inspected electric systems and
Both Equinor and PSA are trying to clarify major accident preparedness at the facility in the
the course of events and establish the causes of week before the fire. On September 24, the safety
the incident, and the police have also launched regulator told Equinor that it had observed that
an investigation. some issues had not been satisfactorily followed
Prior to the fire Equinor was already investi- up by Equinor since a similar audit was last car-
gating a gas leak that occurred in mid-Septem- ried out in 2017.
ber at the facility. “Equinor takes the PSA’s feedback seriously
“Although there is no indication of a connec- and has already started examining the basis for
tion, Equinor will also investigate if the fire can in the findings to address pending items while we
any way be related to the leak,” the state-owned wait for the PSA’s final report from the inspec-
company said. The investigation will also seek to tion,” the company said. “We will also evaluate
determine if the power outage in Hammerfest on whether the findings are isolated cases or if there
September 28 had a connection to the fire. is a need to address routines and systems.” ™

Week 40 08•October•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P19