Esso guilty over gas blast

Esso faces a total fine of $2.75 million ($3.46 million) after its conviction yesterday on 11 criminal charges arising out of the huge explosion at its Longford gas plant in Victoria nearly three years ago.

The Supreme Court jury delivered the verdicts after deliberating for two days, following a trial that lasted nearly three months.

Two Longford workers were killed by the force released when a 12m-long vessel ruptured in the oldest of three gas-processing plants on September 25, 1998.