Safe mine re-entry ‘possible’

Experts considering the risks of re-entering the Pike River mine say every option for getting back inside is ‘‘technically feasible’’.

About 24 people have assessed three options to re-enter the 2.3 kilometre tunnel, or mine drift, including technical experts, representatives from the Pike River families, police, WorkSafe, the Department of Conservation, and Mines Rescue.

The coalition Government set up the Pike River Recovery Agency to explore re-entering the mine drift eight years after the explosion that killed 29 men on November, 19, 2010.

Risk assessor and facilitator Jim Knowles, who will write a report on the re-entry, said people could enter the mine safely.

‘‘It’s been two weeks of hard work. I’m confident they [the agency] can move forward with what we’ve done.

‘‘Any one of those options is feasible and can be done safely.’’

The three options for re-entry are: using a single entry; building a new 250 metre-long tunnel, which would connect with the ‘‘Pit Bottom in Stone’’ area, for ventilation and a second escape route; and using a single entry but adding a new large borehole to provide a means of emergency escape.

All risks had been identified for each task involved in each option.

The team also discussed what control measures were needed to manage those risks and hazards.

The risk assessment will then be independently reviewed by another team of experts.

Pike River Recovery Agency chief executive Dave Gawn said the work was needed to ensure the safety of anyone who ended up re-entering the mine.

‘‘I’m confident . . . there’s nothing I’ve heard that would mean re-entry is impossible.

‘‘All three options have been shown to be technically feasible,’’ he said.