Sunday Blaze Causes $10 Million Fire Damage
Unclear when production will restart
It remains unclear when production will restart at the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter after a blaze ripped through the facility on Sunday afternoon, causing an estimated $10 million damage.
The fire started in a transformer, with an oil leak likely responsible
The inferno caused the evacuation and shutdown of the BHP-owned nickel processing plant.
Thankfully, no one was hurt and all staff and contractors on site at the time were accounted for.
The plant remains shut down, however, workers have since returned to the Kalgoorlie Smelter to assess damage and return the plant to normal operations.
Firefighters battled the blaze, which was reported on Sunday just after 2pm and was brought under control about four hours later.
The Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter began operating in 1972 and produces nickel matte, which is refined into briquettes at the Kwinana Nickel Refinery.