Members will be aware of the development of two Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) storage facilities that are being built at Milford Haven
and the LNG pipeline that will connect the LNG sites to the National
Gas Grid.
Officers in Pembrokeshire have carried out considerable work
preparing and delivering training materials, to ensure that first
strike Pembrokeshire firefighters are aware of the hazards likely to
be encountered
during the construction phase of the projects. There has been considerable
public interest in the LNG developments, in particular the concern
about the hazards posed by LNG to the communities near the LNG sites.
It is important to be confident that MAWWFRS and partner agencies
are fully prepared for the arrival of LNG in October 2007
A working
group
of officers in Pembrokeshire is currently developing the detailed
operational procedures for LNG incidents. The plans and procedures
will be tested
by a series of exercises that follow the completion of training in
new skills and awareness of how to deal with a LNG incident.
The South
Hook LNG company has established a close working relationship with
the Pembrokeshire operations working group. This company is keen
to ensure that MAWWFRS officers are fully conversant with the processes
involved in the production, storage and shipping of LNG. South Hook
LNG has invited 2 Pembrokeshire officers to visit their production
facility at Ras Laffen Industrial City Industrial City in Qatar.
The
Ras Laffen Industrial City will be the largest source of LNG in
the world, and has the greatest depth of technical knowledge of how
to
successfully manage the risks and hazards posed by LNG. The proposed
visit will involve detailed instruction on the behaviour of LNG
in an emergency, a thorough briefing on the industrial processes involved
in LNG production and practical experience in dealing with LNG
emergencies. The programme would run for a full 6 days and is provisionally
timetabled
for early May 2006, before the weather becomes too hot (50 degrees
C)
Two officers from Pembrokeshire ADO D John and Stn O D Hancock
have been nominated to visit Qatar and are expected to return with
all
the necessary information to fully brief Pembrokeshire personnel
on
the
LNG process, hazards and emergency procedures and to prepare the
Standard Operating Procedures on LNG for MAWWFRS
The invitation
from South
Hook LNG is without charge to MAWWFRS. All costs of the visit
of 6 days
will be met by South Hook LNG.
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