24 Sep 2017

First jet fuel pumped through repaired pipe

12:51 pm on 24 September 2017

The first load of jet fuel has successfully made its way through the newly repaired pipe-line from Marsden Point to Wiri - more than a week after the pipe ruptured.

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Photo: Refining NZ

The 170 kilometre fuel pipeline from Marsden Point to Auckland has been repaired after it broke more than a week ago.

Over the last couple of days jet fuel has been trucked from Marsden Point to the airport and the tanker Matuku delivered a load of fuel to Wynyard Wharf last night.

Refining New Zealand said the first batch of jet fuel was pumped through the pipe to Wiri this morning.

The fuel would have to settle in tanks before being transported to the airport which would take another 30 hours.

The flight plans of thousands of air passengers were disrupted after the sole pipeline ruptured.

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