L.P.G. site causes concern

Press, 8 May 1980, Page 6

L.P.G. site causes concern

British Petroleum, Ltd, wants to use a portion of its existing oil-storage facility at Lyttelton for the storage and transfer of liquefied petroleum gas, it was confirmed at yesterday’s meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. This is the first time a site has been named and there was concern among some board members regardling the danger aspects of; any such installation. I Mr J. F. Davidson said,! (“Even though the experts say the chances of an accident are one in a million,] one accident there could wipe out the entire borough of Lyttelton.” The board’s general manager pointed out that B.P. would first have to get approval of the siting from both the Lyttelton Borough and Heathcote County coun-

cils and that, in any case, strict safety precautions would have to be adhered to. He cited dangerous goods regulations gazetted in March covering such flammable substances as L.P.G. But, it was pointed out, no [regulations yet exist for [storage tanks or maritime [tanker carriage of the gas. ( Another board member, |Mr .!. Brand, cautioned fel-| (low members against object-] i ing too strongly to the pro- [ nosal at this stage, saying | that “some members could] [imply that we do not want; the L.P.G. trade; but we do,[ and wp will certainly con-j form to all safely regu-| lations.” ; The BP site, leased from the Harbour Board, is nearj the southern tip of. the oil-1 storage terminal area north-] east of Quail Island. I