Staff Evacuated from Oz GPP In Response to Bushfires

Non-essential staff have been evacuated from the Orbost gas processing plant (GPP) in Victoria, southeast Australia, in response to bushfires sweeping the region, local gas producer Cooper Energy reported on January 6.

The plant in East Gippsland, operated by infrastructure operator APA Group, is undergoing upgrades to handle gas from Cooper’s offshore Sole field.

“APA has advised its non-essential personnel were evacuated from the area and those remaining are safe,” Cooper said in a statement, adding that none of its personnel were in areas affected by bushfires. “APA has advised the plant has not been impacted by the fires and power is available on site.”

APA acquired the shuttered Orbost GPP from Cooper in an A$20mn deal in 2017, agreeing to modernise it to process up to 70 TJ of gas from the Sole field. Sole was declared ready to start production several months ago, but work delays at the Orbost plant have pushed back its scheduled launch to February this year.

“APA has advised remobilisation of the workforce to site and the resumption of commissioning work remain subject to assurances of safety and adequate supplies,” Cooper said.

The impact of the bushfires is expected to result in a further two-week delay, or more depending APA’s ability to access and use roads safely, it added.