GAG engine to continue through weekend

Efforts to extinguish the fire in the Pike River mine are progressing today with Police advising the GAG engine has continued to operate overnight.

Superintendent Gary Knowles said this morning that the GAG engine is expected to continue working today and throughout the weekend.

Sampling and analysis of gas levels and temperatures in the mine are also continuing. Superintendent Knowles said tests indicate that the GAG is working as expected to gradually suppress the fire.

"The results so far are positive but this will be a long process," he said. "We're likely to be talking weeks rather than hours or days.

"Once the GAG unit has suppressed the fire the mine will then be filled with nitrogen to create an inert atmosphere.

"We are continuing to work towards a recovery operation but can't consider sending teams in until we're sure it is safe to do so."

ENDS

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