By Emma Mackie
An Australian consultant says employees at Pike River lacked understanding of the electrical issues that may have ignited the explosion at the mine.
Tony Reczek gave detailed technical evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry this morning regarding the likely electrical source of ignition that caused the explosion, killing 29 men.
He told the inquiry there were two likely sources of electrical ignition; one was the inadequacy of the power supply to the mine and the other, stray electrical currents that could “go walkabout” and ignite methane anywhere throughout the mine.
He said the appropriate use of explosive-proof and flameproof enclosures on electrical equipment was a concern.
Mr Reczek also said the turning on of a switch from the control room could have increased the likelihood of stray currents that sparked the explosion.
He said the apparent lack of understanding of electrical issues at the mine made him uncomfortable and he did not believe there was a clear-cut understanding of how to tackle these issues at Pike River.
The expert witness also questioned the installation of the main fan underground, saying he had not seen a set-up like it anywhere else in the world.
However, spokesman for the families of the 29 men killed in the disaster, Bernie Monk, says the “hearsay” nature of the evidence is another reason they should get into the mine as soon as possible to retrieve further evidence from the scene of the explosion.
3 News