Finding out what caused the explosions that killed 29 men in the Pike River Coal mine will be the focus of the royal commission of inquiry into the disaster when it resumes in Greymouth today.
The third of four phases of the inquiry is expected to run until the end of next week, and will hear evidence from Australian mine experts, Department of Labour management and former Pike River Coal general manager Douglas White and former technical services manager Pieter van Rooyen.
Evidence will be heard on the flammable gas and coal dust in the mine and the likely ignition source of a series of explosions in the West Coast mine which killed 29 men in November 2010.
The inquiry will look at where the men were in the mine at the time and what they would have been doing.
It will also look at the mine's systems for ventilation, testing and controlling the atmosphere in the mine, preventing explosions and communication with the surface.
The first two phases of the inquiry looked at mining history, regulations and the development of the Pike River mine, and the search and rescue efforts.
3 News will be providing live updates when the inquiry resumes this morning.
NZN