WITH a cut of the white ribbon spanning the entrance gate, the Mila Gas Compressor Station was officially opened in front of an audience of some 35 people on September 10.
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Special guests who attended the opening included local Members of Parliament Dr Mike Kelly and Mr Steve Whan, as well as Bombala Council Mayor Bob Stewart, several Councillors, and local Emergency Services representatives.
The event was a culmination of 12 months work to construct and install a $35 million mid-line compressor on the Eastern Gas Pipeline at Mila some 19km south of Bombala.
The project was completed ahead of time, below budget and with no Lost Time Injuries to workers on site.
The pipeline transports natural gas from Bass Strait to Canberra, Nowra, Tallawarra (near Wollongong), Port Kembla and Sydney. The new Mila Compressor Station increases the pipeline capacity by 15 per cent.
“Jemena is renowned for its high quality gas, electricity, and water infrastructure, and services that support and sustain industry, businesses and the lives of individuals,” Jemena Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lim Howe Run said.
Jemena’s parent company Singapore Power is a leading energy utility in the Asia Pacific region and rated one of the world’s best performing networks and both Singapore Power and Jemena understand how essential the delivery of energy is.
“At Jemena we believe that what we do isn’t just important - it’s vital. Our services keep the wheels of communities turning, every moment of every day,” Mr Lim said.
Dr Kelly took the opportunity to support the need for natural gas as an essential energy for industry, business and electricity generation as one of a mix of energy sources that has a lower environmental impact.
Mr Whan indicated that large projects such as this one completed in Mila are a great boost for regional development.
He pointed out that the natural gas pipeline itself created opportunities for towns like Bombala and Cooma, with a readily available supply of energy that can be used to encourage investment and development in the region.
Jemena’s Shaun Reardon, Executive General Manager Energy Investments said,
“Working on a site where live gas is being carried by pipelines requires well-planned safety procedures. This meant that everyone working here had to undergo safety induction training and to comply with strict controls.
“To achieve zero Lost Time Injuries required teamwork and a commitment to safety from everyone who worked on site. Jemena appreciated the professional approach of all workers on the site including the lead contractor, Enerflex and local business owners who have helped ensure that we complied with all our management and safety requirements.”
On-site safety has not stopped with the end of construction; it is managed on an ongoing basis.
“With everyone working together we plan for this site to keep its Zero Lost Time Injury record,” said Shaun.
Following an outline of safety requirements, guests assembled into groups to tour the compressor station. This provided an insight into the scale of the project, the complexity of pipework, ancillary equipment, controls, and the safety procedures at the station.
When commissioned four weeks ago the compressor station was immediately put into service due to gas demand at the time, and has been successfully operating to its design specifications.
For more photographs of the Mila Gas Compressor Station Opening, please see Page 15.