❓ Asks about the location, safety, and oversight of liquid ammonia and ammonium nitrate storage/processing facilities in WA, including potential risks and emergency preparedness, particularly in light of past gas supply disruptions.
AnsweredQoN 75Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Are there any current or proposed facilities in Western Australia which store or process liquid ammonia, or ammonium nitrate?
(2) If yes to (1):
(a) where are they located or proposed to be located;
(b) how far are those identified in (a) each located from residential populations;
(c) how far are those identified in (a) each located from the nearest industrial facilities;
(d) how far are those identified in (a) each located from other critical infrastructure, LNG plants, etc.; and
(e) how far are those identified in (a) each located from significant environmental and heritage places?
(3) What is the estimated blast radius of each facility identified in (2)(a)?
(4) If the answer to (3) is not known, why not?
(5) What measures are in place to prevent overheating or explosions at each facility:
(a) if none, why not; and
(b) if not known, why not?
(6) In the event of an explosion, what measures are in place to protect the employees of the facilities, nearby workers and residents, and surrounding infrastructure?
(7) What is the level of liability insurance provided by each of the proponents for each facility to cover the unthinkable eventuality of an explosion, and is this sufficient to cover such an eventuality?
(8) Which is the inspectorate that oversees the inspection and safety of such plants or facilities?
(9) How often are these plants or facilities inspected?
(10) When were the last inspections of these plants or facilities?
(11) Have any of these plants or facilities been found to be non-compliant with their management of safety requirements in the past two years:
(a) if yes, which plants or facilities; and
(b) if yes, on what dates and on how many occasions?
(12) As a result of Cyclone Carlos in February 2011 shutting down Varanus Island gas supply did Burrup Fertilisers lose gas supply?
(13) If yes to (12), did thousands of litres of ammonia start warming in their storage tanks which would have needed to be released into the atmosphere within hours if gas could not be immediately restored?
(14) Were contingencies put in place to evacuate nearby industry and the town of Dampier as a result of the heightened risk of an ammonia leak or explosion?
(2) If yes to (1):
(a) where are they located or proposed to be located;
(b) how far are those identified in (a) each located from residential populations;
(c) how far are those identified in (a) each located from the nearest industrial facilities;
(d) how far are those identified in (a) each located from other critical infrastructure, LNG plants, etc.; and
(e) how far are those identified in (a) each located from significant environmental and heritage places?
(3) What is the estimated blast radius of each facility identified in (2)(a)?
(4) If the answer to (3) is not known, why not?
(5) What measures are in place to prevent overheating or explosions at each facility:
(a) if none, why not; and
(b) if not known, why not?
(6) In the event of an explosion, what measures are in place to protect the employees of the facilities, nearby workers and residents, and surrounding infrastructure?
(7) What is the level of liability insurance provided by each of the proponents for each facility to cover the unthinkable eventuality of an explosion, and is this sufficient to cover such an eventuality?
(8) Which is the inspectorate that oversees the inspection and safety of such plants or facilities?
(9) How often are these plants or facilities inspected?
(10) When were the last inspections of these plants or facilities?
(11) Have any of these plants or facilities been found to be non-compliant with their management of safety requirements in the past two years:
(a) if yes, which plants or facilities; and
(b) if yes, on what dates and on how many occasions?
(12) As a result of Cyclone Carlos in February 2011 shutting down Varanus Island gas supply did Burrup Fertilisers lose gas supply?
(13) If yes to (12), did thousands of litres of ammonia start warming in their storage tanks which would have needed to be released into the atmosphere within hours if gas could not be immediately restored?
(14) Were contingencies put in place to evacuate nearby industry and the town of Dampier as a result of the heightened risk of an ammonia leak or explosion?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2013
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
26 days
It would be more appropriate to direct this question to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum to answer.
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