Gas Supply Outage Update: Bathurst, Lithgow, Oberon, and Wallerawang

As at 5:00 PM, Thursday, 3 November 2022

Jemena has mobilised additional staff as ‘boots on the ground’ in response to an overnight incident, resulting in no natural gas supply being available to Bathurst, Lithgow, Wallerawang and Oberon.

Following an incident on APA’s Lithgow to Young Gas Pipeline overnight, believed linked to flooding, APA has successfully restored supply to Bathurst, and Jemena is starting to take steps to restore gas to individual homes and businesses in Bathurst. 

Jemena is still awaiting advice from APA on when gas supply will be restored for Wallerawang, Oberon and Lithgow so that Jemena can commence restoring gas to its customers. 

The Jemena and APA teams are working closely together to bring all customers back on supply as quickly as possible, and APA is actively supporting the gas restoration plan.

This is a large-scale, significant interruption to the supply of gas affecting more than 20,000 customers. As restoring gas supply is a complex process, involving a physical visit to each customer’s premises, it may take weeks to restore supply to all affected. We acknowledge the impact for our customers, particularly with the weather unseasonably cold. 

Bathurst gas restoration

Jemena has started to enact a gas restoration plan for Bathurst residents which will involve:

•    Attending each site where there is a gas connection 
•    Conducting activity to make the gas connection safe
•    Re-lighting the gas supply

Critical customers, such as hospitals, will be prioritised as part of this restoration.

If Jemena cannot reach a customer’s gas meter to reconnect their supply, we will leave a calling card asking them to contact us.

We are asking customers to reach out to us directly on 131 909 if they have safety and welfare concerns – or phone 000 in an emergency. 

As at 7:00 AM, Thursday, 3 November 2022

A gas supply issue is currently impacting customers in Bathurst, Lithgow, Oberon, and Wallerawang. This is due to an incident on the Young Lithgow Pipeline which is owned and operated by APA.

Our crews are working closely with APA who are investigating the cause of the incident with a view to conducting repairs. Once repairs are complete we will commence restoring customers' gas supply as safely and quickly as possible - as a result this may take some time and we will provide further information as it becomes available. 

We thank our customers for their understanding and support at this time.

More information will be made available through the Jemena website later today (Thursday, 3 November 2022).

For gas emergencies please contact 131 909. 

---ENDS---