Royal Commission of Inquiry Phase Two on Pike River Explosion
Pike River Mine Explosion
The Pike River Mine has a consenting (a requirement under the New Zealand Resource Management Act which authorises activities to be held at physical and natural resources in the country) history dating back to the 70s. In 2001, Pike River Coal Ltd had to apply for Minister’s Conservation Agreement for them to have access arrangement for their mining. It was in 2004 when Chris Carter, Minister of Conservation, approved Pike River Coal Ltd’s access arrangement with certain conditions. The conditions included that mining company should have a budget of NZ$70,000 to be spent on conservation projects each year. Another condition provides that there should be four 4.9ft-wide escape shafts to be situated inside the Paparoa National Park boundaries. However, the approval of the Pike River Mine access agreement was not met without objections. Those not in favour of the agreement says that the mining activities in Pike River mine will damage the environment.
Regardless of the objections, mining activities were placed in order. Operations were done last quarter of 2008, but coal productions were not as high as expected. It was only in 2009 and 2010 when coal mining picked up.
Unfortunately, a massive explosion occurred on 19 November 2010 in Pike River Mine. The explosion claimed the lives of 29 men. Coal Services PTY Ltd (CSPL) immediately offered support to Pike River Coal (PRC). However, it was deemed best not to start with the rescue mission immediately as the atmosphere in the mine could prove hazardous to the rescuers. The decision to put the rescue mission on hold was a smart decision. There were three additional explosions after the initial explosion occurred. In relation to the Pike River Mine explosion, a Royal Commission of Inquiry was established and was to be led by Justice Graham Panckhurst. He was to be joined by Queensland State Government Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health Stewart Bell and former Inland Revenue Commissioner David Henry. Findings from the Royal Commission were to be reported early in 2012.
Findings from the Royal Commission has four phases: Context, Search & Rescue, What Happened in Pike River, and Policy Aspects. Phase One. This phase comprised of mining and other laws in New Zealand; regulatory environment; resourcing/authorising and implementing New Zealand mining laws. Phase Two. This phase discusses the cause of death and the operations enacted in terms of rescuing the mine explosion victims. Phase Three. This phase will determine the practices of PRC in terms of management and operations. This will also determine the cause of the Pike River Mine Explosions. Phase Four. This phase will compare findings in phase one with that of selected countries.
The search and rescue findings from the Royal Commission are ongoing. Several parties are expected to give evidence. Some of them include: NSW Mines Rescue, Coal Services PTY Ltd, New Zealand Fire Services, Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station, Solid Energy New Zealand.
According to inquiries done for the Royal Commission, discussions about sealing the mine were done on 25th November 2010. It was mentioned that sealing off the mine would have resulted to the additional explosions to occur even before the 5th day set in. Darren Brady, an Australian mining expert who flew to New Zealand and who was tasked to analyse gas samples, agrees to this statement. He says that there is no given time when you can safely enter a mine that has just suffered from an explosion. Also, he adds that sealing off the mine will compromise the lives of any survivor as they may rely on the air coming into the mine.
NSW Mines Rescue, Australia State Manager Seamus Devlin is also invited to take part in the Royal Commission Inquiry on Pike River Explosion. Devlin narrates that CSPL heard of the explosion after an hour from the explosion. CSPL contacted Trevor Watts, New Zealand Mine Rescue Manager, to offer them assistance. He also adds that they were advised that rescue operations would not be taken immediately. Devlin continues to say that meetings were done for the mine rescue operations. Evidently, it was concluded that sealing the mines would only be undertaken once they were assured that there was zero survivability. After the fourth explosion, it became apparent that the mine had to be sealed off immediately. Paul Healy of CSPL was in a meeting with Steve Ellis of PRC. It was discussed that recovery, given the incurred damages, was already unlikely.
The Royal Commission Inquiry went on to ask Devlin about the cause of death. Devlin answers that causes would be asphyxiation, burn and impact injuries from the explosions. He adds that had the miners been alive after the first explosion, it would have been possible for the survivors to have escaped the mine using their self-rescuers.
For further studies, Devlin was also asked about mining practices in NSW. Devlin shares that training exercises are done in each mine every year, even though it is not statutory in NSW. He also says that a risk-assessed plan is made by the IMT. The plan would then be reviewed and returned to IMT for the decision
