Australia's Wesfarmers reveals losses from gas shortage
Updated
One of Australia's largest public companies, Wesfarmers, has revealed the West Australian gas shortage is costing it up to $A20 million ($US19.1 million) a month.
The explosion at Apache Energy's Varanus gas plant has led Wesfarmers to suspend the production of ammonia and sodium cyanide within its chemicals and fertilisers division.
It has also revealed its Kwinana LPG extraction plant, near Perth, is operating at much lower output, while the commissioning of its new plant at Kwinana has been delayed.
The managing director, Richard Goyder, says he expects some of the losses to be recovered through insurance.
He says no staff members have been stood down at this stage.
