A fire has extensively damaged a heat plant and caused a temporary interruption to production at CSR’s MDF and FeaturPanels plant at Oberon, 180 km west of Sydney.

The fire commenced late yesterday afternoon and was brought under control during the evening. The cause of the fire has not yet been established.

All staff were evacuated and there were no injuries. A consequent oil leak was contained on the site.

The heat plant, the smaller of two on the site, will need to be replaced. A short term solution is being implemented, to draw spare capacity from the larger heat plant.

Production is expected to resume within seven to nine days in both the No.1 MDF line, with a capacity of 100,000 cubic metres a year, and the FeaturPanels line.

The No.2 MDF line, with a capacity of 160,000 cubic metres, resumed production at midnight last night.

CSR said damage to the plant, and the interruption to production, was covered by insurance, subject to standard excess provisions.