THE WEST Australian opposition has leaked a letter showing the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP) expressed concerns about the state of Apache Energy’s gas pipelines eleven months before the crippling gas explosion.
The DOCEP had written a letter to the Department of Industry and Resources (DoIR) on 5 July 2007 stating the pipelines did not comply with licensing conditions and standards.
According to the letter, the pipelines had been operating since 1991 and 1998 and were in need of a thorough study, with concerns regarding corrosion, safety management and integrity.
State and federal agencies are currently arguing about who was responsible for maintaining and inspecting the facilities.
The state government has responded to the leaked documents by saying they concerned pipelines on the mainland 130km away from the Varanus Island facility.
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