03 August 2007
The first phase of a hazard review at the fuel farm has found no problem with continuing with plans for industrial development at La Collette, subject to a rigorous assessment of the nature of work to be undertaken and a limitation on the number of staff employed.
The review was called for by the Minister of Transport and Technical Services following an explosion at the UK’s Buncefield oil depot in December 2005, which raised the possibility that developments close to large fuel depots may be more strictly controlled in the future.
The Buncefield explosion was caused when a vapour cloud ignited. But Atkins, the consultant appointed to conduct the review and who performed a similar role for the Health and Safety Executive in the UK, concluded that the risks of a vapour cloud explosion at La Collette were sufficiently low that it would not be unreasonable to continue at La Collette with new industrial developments with low levels of occupation.
This means that planning applications put on hold while the review was undertaken, including the outline application for a new Energy from Waste plant, can now be considered.
The first phase of the hazard review also included assessing the status of current occupants in terms of emergency plans, evacuation procedures, access and regulatory controls at La Collette. The review said existing procedures should be brought up to date, in line with new guidance, in particular the guidance which followed the Buncefield explosion.
A second review phase is now under way, carrying out work which will help to develop new planning guidance, which will become part of the new Island Plan. The second phase will also consider security issues, infrastructure and whether any changes to regulatory controls and procedures are needed at the site.
The group chairman John Richardson, Chief Officer of Transport and Technical Services, said: ‘We now have a much clearer idea of what the level of risk from vapour cloud explosion is, and this will enable regulators and the planning authority to make informed decisions about what development is appropriate at La Collette. I am grateful for the support of all the parties involved in conducting the review. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am now confident that we can now carry on with development at the site with the full knowledge of all the safety issues.”
“It was very important for this work to be done,” said Deputy Guy de Faye, Minister for Transport. “Although it has been concluded that the risk of a Buncefield type explosion is very low, we are now in a better position to minimise the potential risk at the Island’s main fuel depot and emergency planning measures have already been updated.”
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