Vic: Fire shuts down Esso's Longford gas plant

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2004
Vic: Fire shuts down Esso's Longford gas plant

MELBOURNE, April 5 AAP - Gas has stopped flowing from Victoria's major supplier Esso
after a fire at their plant in the state's east.

The Country Fire Authority was called to the Longford plant after an electrical fire
broke out in the switchroom about 2am (AEST).

Esso spokesman Tony Cudmore said staff had been evacuated and the fire quickly extinguished.

Gas supply had been interrupted and it was not known when it would be resumed, he said.

"At this stage we are working to asses the damage and plans are underway for a restoration
of gas supply," he said.

All relevant authorities had been notified and an internal investigation into the cause
of the fire had been launched, he said.

The Longford plant supplies more than 90 per cent of Victoria's gas.

An explosion at the plant in 1998 killed two and left homes and businesses without
gas for almost two weeks.

AAP apw/gfr/

KEYWORD: LONGFORD

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