A 1 millimetre-deep scratch causes gas-main breakdown

A scratch measuring just over 1m in depth has been found to be the cause of the Surgut-Omsk-Novosibirsk-Kuzbass gas pipeline which happened in January this year, Gennadi Zubov, a Novosibirsk Region procurator, has told RIA Novosti. According to the experts, the scratch was somehow inflicted on the pipe’s surface about 10 years ago – at the time of the pipeline’s building. In January this year, the leakage led to a powerful explosion – the flame about 100m high could be seen throughout a 15-20km area. Many companies in the Novosibirsk, Kemerovo Regions and the Altai Territory had then to switch to reserve fuel – coal and mazut. The disaster was suppressed in 2 days’ time. The damages was estimated at Rbs2,5 (nearly $87,000). Criminal proceedings were stopped because nobody was hurt.