“To date we have been involved with providing the Mineshield Nitrogen Vaporiser plant and coordinating supply of nitrogen to assist to inert the mine atmosphere,” Coal Services told ILN.
Coal Services also provided a mobile laboratory from Coal Mine Technical Services with gas chromatography gear to analyse samples taken from various locations within the mine.
“We have had staff from both Mines Rescue and CMTS at mine since Thursday night/ Friday morning,” Coal Services said.
The industry-owned coal safety organisation will assist with mine re-entry planning with Blakefield South staff today.
Coal Services also told ILN that early speculation about the fire being triggered by a spontaneous combustion incident had been deemed “unlikely”
Xstrata previously said there was around-the-clock real time gas monitoring throughout the new longwall operation.
Meanwhile, Xstrata told the ABC this morning it could be months before the mine is reopened and around 500 miners and contractors will be redeployed as recovery efforts continue.
