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Blast at Pike River Mine - Source: ONE News -
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An Australian mine expert says it was clear Pike River was
having real problems keeping the mine ventilated before it
exploded.
Leading Australian mine safety consultant David Reece returned to
the stand at the Royal Commission Inquiry at the Greymouth District
Court today to give evidence into the cause of the fatal blast
which killed the 29 miners at the Pike River Mine on the West
Coast.
Reece, who led a Department of Labour investigation at the mine,
told the inquiry that by looking at the modelled ventilation system
and reports from supervisors, it was evident there were serious
problems with the system.
He said that mining should have been cut back until gas
levels could be brought under control.
Reece has also raised concerns about methane gas detectors
within the mine saying several were in poor condition and unable to
properly detect gas levels.
Yesterday he told the inquiry that the investigation found the
most likely was an accumulation of methane gas being released by a
sudden roof collapse.
A Labour Department investigation found the most likely cause of the initial explosion was a collapse in the "goaf" of the mine, which is cavity deep within the coal extraction area.
This collapse would have released methane gas, which ignited when water pumps in the mine were turned on by Daniel Duggan in the control room above ground.
The commissioners have made it clear that Duggan, who lost his brother Chris in the mine, did nothing wrong.
Under questioning from the families' lawyer Nick Davidson QC, the national services and support general manager for the Labour Department, Brett Murray, said a report was sent to Pike River mine just 25 days before the explosion expressing concern about the stability of that roof after excavation work to increase the size of the cavity by 15 metres.
Reece told the Royal Commission there are still many contributing factors that cannot be ruled out, including whether the electrical plant may have caused sparks deep in the mine, triggering the explosion.
However, Peter Whittall's lawyer Stacey Shortall has disputed that finding, saying contraband like cigarettes or matches in the mine could have been the cause, despite warning signs and random searches.
That's upset spokesman for the victims' families Bernie Monk. "She's got people to protect and she's trying to put the blame on our guys underground who cannot answer them," he said.
The family yesterday demanded that a camera be sent down to the goaf area to give a clearer picture of what happened.
This third phase of the inquiry is scheduled to continue until Friday next week.
Meanwhile, the Royal Commission's request for a six-month extension has been granted.
Its final report will now be made to the Government at the end of September.
The report was due back by the end of this month.
But the commissioners said their timelines and management of evidence and hearings were being complicated by the parallel inquiries being conducted by the police and the Department of Labour.
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