Egoli Gas responded to Panyaza Lesufi’s accusations on Thursday morning, following the Gauteng premier’s statement implicating the company in the investigation of the explosion in Johannesburg CBD.
Lesufi stated during a press briefing that Egoli Gas remains the primary focus of the investigation.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: JHB CBD Explosion: Lesufi Says Focus Remains On Egoli Gas
Initial indications suggest that the explosion resulted from an underground gas pipeline incident, leading to extensive damage in the area.
The tragic incident resulted in one fatality and left 48 others injured, with twelve currently receiving treatment in different hospitals.
In their official statement, Egoli Gas refuted the allegations and emphasized that they had conducted inspections on their pipeline network within the CBD.
They confirmed that the pipeline on Bree Street’s road servitude had been thoroughly checked and found to be undamaged.
The company identified a minor leak on the servitude pipeline at the corner of Bree and Eloff, specifically on a 100mm pipe.
They attributed this leak to a crack caused by the road’s collapse.
Egoli Gas clarified that around 15 other utility lines, including a sewerage line, also ran through the same area beneath the street.
They reiterated that their pipelines were situated on the servitude of the road.
The company noted that during their observations on-site and through various platforms, they noticed one or two blown-off manhole covers and observed a white gas-like substance emanating from these openings, along with some visible cracks in the road.
However, they clarified that their piped natural gas is not visible to the human eye, and what appeared to be gas was, in fact, warm steam.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Watch CCTV Footage Of The Moment Joburg CBD Explodes
Egoli Gas assured the public that they would keep them informed as they continue to assess any damage to their network.
They pledged their commitment to provide expertise on piped natural gas to the authorities and work towards ensuring the safety and maintenance of the area.
Full Story Source: Egoli Gas Reacts To Accusations